District hires Alaskan as new elementary school principal

The Wrangell district has hired a new elementary school principal.

Jamie Wollman, principal at the Hooper Bay Charter School in the western Alaska coastal community, is moving to Wrangell for the 2024-2025 school year.

"I like to go to places that present a different challenge," Wollman said. "I love when people share that want to do exciting things for students."

She was hired in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to start up the charter school. It's open to students in grades 4 through 8 in the Lower Yukon School District, and the curriculum centers around applying scientific topics or concepts to the local surroundings of Hooper Bay.

"We invite our community in and we construct a curriculum around culture and tradition of the area," Wollman said, adding that her school was recognized by the National Indian Education Association for its innovative approach.

Wollman will replace Ann Hilburn, who is leaving the principal job at Evergreen Elementary School at the end of this school year to serve as special education director in Tok, in Alaska's Interior.

Wrangell also will have a new principal in August for its middle and high schools, with Greg Clark, a Fairbanks educator, hired for the job. He will replace Jackie Hanson, who is leaving to serve as superintendent at the Craig School District.

Wollman describes herself as a Department of Defense brat, as her father worked for the department and the family traveled extensively for his job. "I am originally from Arkansas via the rest of the world."

Through the Department of Defense Educational Activities, Wollman worked in schools in South Korea and Germany before coming to Alaska for the Hooper Bay job.

"I've traveled a lot, visited a lot of places but it's always nice to come to a new place," she said. "I expect Wrangell is no different. There's going to be some fun, exciting things to learn." Hooper Bay is more than 1,200 air miles northwest of Wrangell.

Wollman said she'll first visit her daughter in Anchorage and spend time with her grandchildren before moving to Wrangell in July as soon as she can find a place. "I will be arriving with my Swedish standard poodles," she said. "So, if anyone sees a woman with Swedish standard poodles, they'll know it's me."