Forest Hills — Natalie Bice will not be sporting Ranger green this year. The former Central Middle School assistant principal moved to Collins Elementary School this fall as the building’s new principal, meaning her school color is now Husky blue.
Bice said the move to Collins gave her an opportunity to return to her roots in elementary education, and she is excited to be part of the Husky community.
Previous positions held in the district:
- Second-grade teacher, Meadow Brook Elementary
- District instructional coach and assistant principal, Central Middle School
How will this move to elementary change your approach to students and the work you do? “Moving from middle school to elementary school has been a fun reminder that, in many ways, kids are kids! Social-emotionally, elementary students are working on many of the same skills I saw in middle school: learning how to manage big feelings, solve problems, build friendships, advocate for themselves and figure out who they are.
“The biggest difference? The shoes are a little smaller, and the hugs are a lot more frequent!”
What are you most excited about in your new position, and why? “I’m most excited about building relationships with the students, staff and families at Collins and becoming part of the Husky community. There is something really special about an elementary school: the energy, the excitement and the genuine joy students bring to school each day. I’m especially looking forward to being in a building where I can see students grow not just academically, but socially and emotionally, from their first days in school through fourth grade.
“I’m also excited to be back in an elementary setting and to bring what I’ve learned from my experiences in both elementary and middle school together. Most of all, I’m excited to learn alongside our students and staff and help make Collins a place where everyone feels like they belong.”
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