First-year Wenatchee High School Assistant Principal Dave Perkins has been selected to be principal at Sunnyslope Elementary School next year.

Perkins was chosen as the top applicant out of the 30 candidates who applied for the position, and will replace current Sunnyslope Principal Cori Pflug-Tilton, who has been selected as Assistant Director for Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS) at the district office.

“When the position became open, it was an intriguing position. It’s a school with a great reputation, an awesome staff and students who perform at really high levels, so I saw it as an opportunity to continue in my career. It has been a lifelong and career goal to become principal of a school,” Perkins said. “I saw this opportunity and thought I would apply and give it my best shot.”

Perkins has held positions in elementary schools prior to WHS as the Dean of Students of Tres Rios Elementary School in Tolleson, Ariz.

“I’m a very happy and energetic person. I like mixing it up with kids and eating lunch with kids and really interacting one-on-one with students is really one of my strengths,” Perkins said.

With Celebrezze leaving WHS at the end of this year, Perkins’ departure means that two-fifths of the principal positions at WHS will be left vacant.

“Mr. Celebrezze is being replaced by an excellent and experienced principal candidate. He’s going to come in and do a great job and continue a lot of the great things that WHS has to offer as well as bring a new perspective and new ideas to make this school even better,” Perkins said. “There’s many qualified applicants who would love the opportunity to lead at WHS … There will be other people who will come after us, and whoever replaces me will bring a lot of positive qualities and experiences to the job.”