Meet Your New Principal: Pembroke's Susan Crocker

There are five new principals at this year, and they're all excited to meet their students and the Birmingham community.

Comprising this new class of principals, all of whom replaced resigning or retiring administrators during the summer, are: Jamii Hitchcock at , Deana Lancaster at , Jason Clinkscale at , Laura Tinsley at the and Susan Crocker at .

Patch is catching up with all of Birmingham's new principals and introducing them to you in a series of profiles. Today, we're talking to:

Susan Crocker

School:

Replacing: Colette Ivey,

History: Crocker has been in elementary education for more than 15 years

Crocker began her career in Texas as a middle school teacher and coach. After moving to Michigan in 1998, she was hired as a fifth-grade teacher at Doherty Elementary School in West Bloomfield. She spent three years as a fifth-grade teacher, then moved into the district's science and mathematics curriculum coordinator position for half a year. In fall 2002, she was hired as Doherty's principal and remained in that position for nine years.

However, this isn't the first time Crocker has worked with Birmingham Public Schools. Crocker completed her administrative internship at the Birmingham Covington School with former principal Dale Truding. Crocker earned her bachelors degree from the University of Houston and her masters from Wayne State in educational administration in 2002.

Plans for 2011-12: Crocker said her administrative experience has taught her the power of teamwork and she is looking to create an environment in which everyone can learn and succeed.

"I will earn trust, develop strong relationships and create and maintain an environment that supports all learners, both children and adults, so we can stretch our thinking and experience high levels of social, emotional and academic achievement."

Why she loves Pembroke: According to Crocker, it's an honor to be hired into the Birmingham Public School district. "I am looking forward to joining the Pembroke learning community this fall. I have heard and read nothing but wonderful things about the Pembroke children, staff and community."

Message to parents: Crocker said she is excited to get to know the Pembroke community and learning what they want to focus on in upcoming years.

"What are we proud of? What do we want to work on? What do you want to learn about?" she said. "I believe that genuine collaboration fosters ownership of a rich school culture. Supporting our kids to do well at school, and in their lives, is the center of our work."

For more Back to School coverage, check out Birmingham Patch's Back to School Guide 2011.