October 19, 2016 at 3:57 p.m.
Volk brings career full circle with return to Crescent
Interim principal started her career at elementary school
Volk brings career full circle with return to Crescent
But, in at least one way, it was also a homecoming for Volk.
"I've kind of come full circle because this is the school where I worked at when I originally came to Rhinelander," she said. "We didn't have this expansion on it yet, it was just that existing building over there. So it's nice to be back here and see the younger kids and work with the younger kids."
Volk earned a bachelor of science degree in communicative disorders from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, then went on to earn a master's degree in speech/language pathology at UWSP. Prior to coming to the School District of Rhinelander, where she most recently worked with students at James Williams Middle School and Rhinelander High School in grades 6 through 12, she was a speech/language pathologist for the Oconto Falls School District.
Volk has been working on a master's degree in education leadership at Marian University for almost two years, and is nearing completion of that degree. When completed, this degree will certify her to serve as either a director of special education, director of student services, director of curriculum or principal.
She took over as interim principal at Crescent Sept. 20, when Kelly Huseby took a leave of absence. Huseby resigned her position with the district on Oct. 10.
When asked if she plans to continue and get a doctorate degree in education, Volk said she hasn't decided on that yet.
She also said it's too soon to decide if she will apply for the full-time principal position.
"I haven't decided yet, I want to talk to my husband about that," she said. "He took a new job this year, he used to be in our district and now he's in the district where our kids go to school."
She said the way she manages her workload has changed in some ways since she took over as principal at Crescent.
"It's different than my previous job just because there are more after hours things that I will do," Volk said. "I don't want to sit in my office all day checking my email, I'm out and about and check my email in the evening and do those types of things I can do outside of school. With my other job as a speech pathologist, there were several meetings associated with that, too, with all the IEPs and paperwork."
She said the reception she has received since her arrival has been good.
"I'm excited to be here and excited to work with the students and staff and the families," she said. "I think it's been a nice welcome for me. Some of the staff I've worked with previously."
In addition to her work on her second master's degree, Volk said she has already done some administrative work.
"I had already taken on some administrator roles as part of my practicum at the middle school and I did some over the summer with Maggie Peterson, so I started doing some of those roles already," Volk said. "It is a different position."
When asked if she misses her work as a speech pathologist, she said she misses the students she worked with at the middle and high schools.
"I do still have some students I'm working with at the high school, that I am still providing some services for," she said.
Volk said she and her husband and three daughters enjoy boating, waterskiing, downhill skiing and being outdoors and spends a great deal of time in the summer on the lakes, both boating and waterskiing. She also said her daughters are active in dance, piano, basketball and softball.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at jtaylor@lakelandtimes .com.
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