Owensboro Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Matthew Constant has removed the interim tag for the leaders of Hager and Seven Hills preschools for the 2023-24 school year. Debbie Wathen has been named the preschool coordinator and will be primarily based out of Hager Preschool. Dr. Jennifer Scarbrough has been named the assistant preschool coordinator and will be primarily based out of Seven Hills preschool.
“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 takes over at Hager Preschool after spending the past several years as the assistant preschool director overseeing the day-to-day operations of Seven Hills preschool. She has more than 20 years of preschool experience, all in the Owensboro Public Schools district.
“Debbie has worked more than two decades with early learners and 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 brings more than 20 years of experience as a preschool teacher in both Indiana and Kentucky and most recently spent the past year as a kindergarten teacher at Foust Elementary.
“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 effective July 1, 2023.
