Worthington students will greet two new principals in fall: Jamie Lusher at Wilson Hill Elementary School and Jason Spencer at Granby Elementary School.

School board members approved the hiring of both principals at their meeting held Monday,April 12, at the Worthington Education Center.

"We are pleased to have these two new principals on board because we know that the leadership of our elementary schools are very important positions," said Superintendent Melissa Conrath.

Lusher attended the meeting, which ran past a second hour before her contract was approved.

"Welcome to our district," board member David Bressman said, after joking about the long board meeting. "You'll find it a wonderful district to work for."

Board members approved two-year contracts for both principals, at salaries of $88,317 each per year.

Lusher has been the assistant principal at New Albany Middle School since 2006 and was a teacher for six years in Canal Winchester schools.

She is a doctoral student in educational administration at Ohio University and earned her master's degree in educational administration from Ashland University.

Spencer has been assistant principal at a school in central Florida since 2007 and taught eight years in Seminole County Public Schools.

He also is working on a doctorate in educational administration, at Capella University, and earned his master's of education from Stetson University.

Both principals officially will begin their duties Aug. 1.

Also at this week's meeting, board members heard a presentation from Project MORE, a program that uses volunteers to teach structured reading lessons to struggling readers.

Granby reading teacher Polly Bates and retired school counselor Kathy Moore showed board members a film depicting volunteers working with children.

"Our second-grade teachers have been shocked at how much reading growth they've seen in their students who were struggling with reading," Bates said. "We started how with just nine students at Granby in the program, but now have 38 students and 108 reading mentors coming in and out of our building.

Bates said she trains middle school and high school students as mentors, too.

"I've had high school students tell me how much being a mentor meant to them and asking me if I have another slot in the program they can fill," she said.

Moore has a goal to recruit 1,000 mentors for the program.

"This program works, and what makes it work are our reading instructors and our reading mentors," she said. "Students work with mentors four times a week at 30 minutes a session.

"We have to recruit a lot of people, because most mentors can't promise us four times a week. It is feasible, because of the structure of the program, for someone to volunteer just 30 minutes for once a month," Moore said.

Jennifer Wene, director of academic achievement and professional development, said eight Worthington schools are participating in the program this year.

"It's the most worthwhile project I've ever been involved in, because you really do see the progress," she said.

She said the relationships children form with their mentors is invaluable.

"It's a fulfilling program for mentees and mentors," she said.

Board member Jennifer Best said she is a reading mentor in the program.

"It really is easy and the lessons are scripted for the mentors," she said.