Somers named director of federal programs, assessments for Cd'A schools

Atlas Elementary School Principal Heather Somers has been named the Coeur d'Alene School District's new director of federal programs and assessments.

She will transition to the district office Friday after 11 years as a principal and assistant principal in Coeur d'Alene.

Somers will inaugurate the new merged position, which was opened when director of federal programs and equity, Kate Keinert, transferred as the incoming assistant principal of Northwest Expedition Academy and director of assessment and system performance, Mike Nelson, was named as the district's deputy superintendent. Both positions were made with no additional cost to the district.

Previously, Somers served as an elementary school principal and test coordinator in Winnemucca, Nev. She also has years of experience in managing federal programs such as Title 1 for reading intervention.

"I am thrilled to be part of the Coeur d'Alene School District team," Somers said. "My entire career has been in education, and I look forward to expanding my love of learning in a new role."

Nelson said the committee was very impressed with Somers' knowledge of how assessment and federal programs work so well together.

"She was articulate and shared our vision of how we best support all students, watching them grow over the course of the year, while providing appropriate support where needed," Nelson said.

In her new role, Somers will oversee the coordination of the federal projects in elementary and secondary schools. These include advanced learning programs, McKinney — Vento programs, foster, neglected/delinquent populations, Title II — professional development, American Indian education, English as a second language, Title IV, librarians, grants and 504 processes. She will also administer, collect, analyze and disaggregate student assessment and program evaluation data to provide feedback for improvement of the curriculum design and delivery process, student mastery of the curriculum and efficacy for general educational programming.