Shannon Strole is taking the mantle of principal, effective Feb. 29, and is replacing former principal and current district athletic director Brandon Baker. As the current campus principal, Strole will be presiding over the 2024 graduation ceremony.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be named principal of Klein High,” Strole said. “I am so excited to meet the students and the staff and to learn the Klein High way. Right now, my goal is to be in the hallways and the classrooms so I can meet everyone and run a temperate check on the current status of the campus.”
Strole has been working in the district for 24 years, with positions ranging from teacher, assistant principal, director in Human Resources and principal at two different levels. She was most recently the principal of Doerre Intermediate School.
“Mrs. Strole was a good principal,” eighth-grader Angela Clemens said. “She was a pretty awesome principal but there are a few areas where she could’ve done better.”
Though her time in some of these positions are short-lived, Strole knows how to make an impression.
“I first met her years ago when she was my daughter’s English teacher,” Assistant Principal Cary Goemans said. “My first impression was that she cared for her students and families and that impression continues to hold true as she sets standards of excellence and care for her faculty, staff, students and families she serves as a campus leader.”
Assistant Principal Brendon Bell echoed this positive first impression of Strole.
“I really loved her energy when I met her,” Bell said. “I thought she was really for the people. She got out, met people, took initiative to make connections and learn names. That goes a long way, just to get out, meet people and build relationships.”
Initially, Bell doesn’t expect very much to change.
“Any time someone new transitions in, they want to observe what’s taking place,” Bell said. ”They want to make sure that the things that are going really well continue to improve and those areas that need improvement should take the time to monitor and adjust accordingly, but I think everything will continue to rock on and Klein High will remain the creme de la creme of the district.”
The introduction of Strole itself is a shift for Klein High, especially for seniors.
“It’s kind of weird because I’m used to Baker always being there,” Vance said. “It’s gonna be a new environment to learn. I am also extremely sad. I know Mr. Baker pretty well and I’ve known him for three and a half years now. So to see that Mr. Baker won’t be there on the stage to shake my hand at graduation is pretty heartbreaking. But I’m excited for what Ms. Strole will do with Klein. I just hope Mr. Baker will be at the graduation somewhere in the audience.”
Strole is just beginning her role as principal, and it remains to be seen what she will do.
“I am excited to embrace the culture and traditions of Klein High and to learn the excellent ways the Blue and Gold standards are brought to fruition,” Strole said.
