Sidway's new principal welcomes children, new school year

Story and Photo by Alice Gerard

Senior Contributing Writer

At Charlotte Sidway Elementary School, 2451 Baseline Road, both new and returning students and teachers welcomed the new year and a new principal on Sept. 4.

That new principal, appointed this summer, is Stephanie Anderson. She said she is excited about being at Sidway for the start of the school year.

“The most exciting thing about being the principal here is being a part of such a wonderful, family-oriented community,” Anderson said. “From my very first day on the job, I have been welcomed and embraced and supported, which has just fueled my energy and my confidence. I have been like a little giddy girl like you are on Christmas Eve when you’re a child. I’ve been anticipating being able to open our doors. So, even though it’s pretty soggy outside, I was outside, directing the traffic, saying hello to the kids. For me, today is Christmas Day.”

Anderson said this is her first experience as a building principal. Prior to coming to Grand Island, she was assistant principal for four years at Union East Elementary School in the Cheektowaga Central School District. Her experience also includes 19 years as a special education teacher, she said.

When asked what her hopes and dreams were for this school year, Anderson said, “Honestly, I am a goofball. I like to have fun. I like to joke around. I told a lot of the kids who came to meet me at ‘Popsicles with the Principal’ a few weeks ago that it’s not going to be anything out of the ordinary to hear me singing on the announcements, to see me dancing in the hallways.

“My hope and dream for this year are that kids love coming to school. I want them to wake up in the morning and be so happy and excited that they jump right out of bed and do their happy dance. I want them to be so excited to come to school because they love learning, because we are going to blend perfectly fun into learning and take that balanced approach.”