Leslie Sumler is a planner.
She knew she wanted to be a teacher from a young age, and when she became a teacher, she knew she wanted to get into leadership one day.
However, at a young age, she had her mind made up she would not teach second grade. It was a grade she struggled in, and it left a bad taste in her mouth.
Never say never, though. Sumler spent all but two years in the classroom teaching second grade at Claiborne Elementary. Now, she is the principal at one of just two schools in the district that goes from Pre-Kindergarten to second grade at Calhoun Elementary.
“With our Pre-K to second-grade setting, they are the babies, and they’re just learning,” Sumler said. “They are just starting off with their educational journey, and we are setting the foundation for their goals.”
Sumler spent her entire teaching career at Claiborne – all 14 years – but she always prepared for the next step. She spent the summers running programs at schools like Riser, Jack Hayes and Riverbend to help build up her leadership skills. Then in the summer of 2016, the Curriculum Coordinator position became open at Calhoun Elementary.
“It was definitely something I prayed about,” Sumler said. “I knew I wanted to step outside of the classroom, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to leave Claiborne because it had been my home for 14 years.”
Sumler decided to take a leap of faith and got the job.
“I definitely knew there was more that I was put on this earth to do,” Sumler said. “It’s one of those things where in my older age I want to look back and say, ‘Did I use every bit of talent that was given to me when I was put on this earth?’ I think I am following that path, and not for a title, but to see I am using every bit of my skills and knowledge and whatever else I have been given to do all I can in education.”
Sumler spent 6 years as the Curriculum Coordinator at Calhoun Elementary under two different principals – Shirley Buford and Valerie Williams – and once again, preparing for the next step, she found ways to grow as a school leader.
“They gave me the chance to take the lead on things, whether it was professional development on campus, teacher evaluation, school discipline,” Sumler said. “I would take the lead at times when they had to be off campus. You had to know the ins and outs of procedures and teams and so forth.”
Williams retired last July, and with the short timeframe, Sumler agreed to become the interim principal for a year. As she went before the interview panel for the official principal job earlier this summer, Sumler wanted to emphasize her vision for what she brought and could bring to Calhoun Elementary.
“Making sure we stick with the vision, and the vision is that of student growth, parental involvement and community development,” Sumler said. “Those things are still what we are working on, and being hands on with it. It shows it takes a team to really make sure those efforts are in place, and we are moving forward together.”
Sumler stressed the “we” in this process. She knows it takes more than one person, and again, it’s not about the title for her.
“One person cannot just take it on and say, ‘I’m going to do it,’” Sumler said. “It has to be everyone involved in the growth. Me being there, I see what’s needed and where we are going in the future. Just knowing that, I want to make sure I am doing that with integrity, and my faculty and staff are doing that with integrity, and we are moving forward together.”
Sumler is eager to greet the next group of Pre-Kindergartners and to welcome back the returning students in August. With the youngest group of students than most principals, she is excited to start her first official year as principal at Calhoun Elementary.
“We help them learn this is a safe place,” Sumler said. “We’re going to do all we can for you. We want you to grow and thrive, and you’re going to learn so many great things.”
THE SUMLER FILE:
2001-2002: Claiborne Elementary, Student Teacher
2002-2016: Claiborne Elementary, Teacher
2016-2022: Calhoun Elementary, Curriculum Coordinator
2022-2023: Calhoun Elementary, Interim Principal
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