Owensboro Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Matthew Constant has named the interim leaders for Hager and Seven Hills preschools for 2022-23. Debbie Wathen has been named interim preschool coordinator and will be primarily based out of Hager, while Dr. Jennifer Scarbrough has been named interim assistant preschool coordinator and will be primarily based out of Seven Hills.
The announcement comes after the retirement of Sherry Baber, longtime preschool coordinator at Hager.
Hager follows the Kentucky Department of Education’s model for preschool and Seven Hills falls under the Federal Head Start program. Next year, both KDE and Head Start programs will be evident in both schools.
“We are very blessed with knowledgeable leadership and experience in early childhood education,” Constant said. “Both of these leaders have experience in preschool and early elementary, so they’ll be able to prepare our youngest learners for the kindergarten level very well.”
Wathen previously served as the assistant preschool director at Seven Hills, where she oversaw the day-to-day operations of the school. She has spent over 20 years of preschool experience within the OPS district.
“When Hager staff was asked recently about qualities they were looking for in the next leader, staff loudly advocated for someone with knowledge and experience in the preschool space. Debbie definitely has that knowledge and passion,” Constant said.
Scarbrough spent the last year as a kindergarten teacher at Foust Elementary School and has more than 20 years of experiencing as a preschool teacher.
“Jennifer never stops learning and was once a master teacher in the Seven Hills preschool campus,” Constant said. “She will step out of that role and lead others, equipping them with all the tools necessary for moving successfully to kindergarten.”
Both Wathen and Scarbrough will begin their roles effectively July 1, 2022.
