Frank Fischel / Photo provided by Hamilton County SchoolsFrank Fischel, an educator from New Jersey, was named Ooltewah Elementary School's new principal this week.
"I have worked in a lot of different educational atmospheres, but I sincerely love to work in elementary schools," Fischel said in a statement. "The youthful enthusiasm and excitement for learning that you see in the faces of elementary children is infectious and inspires me in my life and work."
Former Westview Principal Margo Williams had been serving as interim principal during the search for a new leader. Williams came out of retirement to take the temporary post after former Principal Tom Arnold was removed from his position.
Arnold was suspended for ten days in October 2018 and then reassigned as assistant principal at East Ridge Middle after an internal investigation found that Arnold had an inappropriate relationship with a colleague.
Fischel served as principal at Mountain View Elementary in Flanders, New Jersey from 2010 to 2018. The school was named the district's highest-ranked school on the New Jersey Department of Education Report Card and Fischel characteristized the culture at the school as one filled with student-led research and high levels of engagement.
"I am a hands-on, high-energy consensus builder with all learning communities," Fischel said in a statement. "I love building relationships as a principal by successfully "working" evolving plans with kids and teachers - joined by parents."
Fischel said he will make a point to prioritize building relationships in Ooltewah, something that was deemed important on a survey to parents and teachers at Ooltewah Elementary during the search.
Contact staff writer Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.