We appreciate all school administrators for their hard work and dedication to students and staff each and every day. Since October is National Principals Month, we wanted to take a moment to get to know some of our community's newest principals.
Get to know George Gessler, principal at Garfield Elementary School!
What do students call you?
Mr. Gessler or Mr. G
Where were you before you became principal at your school?
I arrive at Garfield a seasoned elementary teacher of 30 years and new principal, but in addition to my role as an educator, I am first and foremost a father and husband. I have been married to my wife Lori for the past 36 years and have two grown boys. Lori has worked as a Foster Care Advocate for the Treehouse Organization for the past 20 years. My oldest son Kyler is 30 years old and is a carpenter/framer. My youngest son Colin is 27 years old and is pursuing his dream of becoming a commercial pilot.
The 2024-25 school year will mark my 36th year in education. I graduated from Eastern Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in K-8 Education. Go Eags! I obtained my master’s in education technology from Lesley University and completed my Principal Certification from Eastern Washington University in 2020. Over the last 36 years, I have taught grades 3-6 and have served as a Principal Assistant at Grant Elementary for the last 3 years.
I passionately believe that every child can excel and succeed in school and in life. The partnership between home and school builds confidence in students to use their powers to shape their future and the future of our community and our nation.
What are you most excited about for the 2023-24 school year?
As a new K-5 principal, I’m super excited to dive into the 2024-25 school year and get to know all the amazing students, families, and staff! It’s going to be a fun year filled with learning, growth, and (hopefully) lots of high-fives. I’m especially looking forward to creating a positive and welcoming environment where kids feel excited to come to school every day. Oh, and watching those lightbulb moments happen when something just "clicks" for a student—that’s the best feeling!
What’s a fun fact about you that your school community would be surprised/excited to learn?
I was adopted from birth in Zaragoza, Spain. I recently connected with my bio-family and found out I have three brothers. I will be meeting them this summer in Spain.