When Dr. John Lovell’s job was open, there was an uneasiness throughout the school and suspense for someone to fill it.
Sunnyslope needs someone with 20-plus years of experience teaching and 11 of them at Sunnyslope, someone who is enthusiastic about making Sunnyslope a better place, and the best choice for the position of Dean of Discipline and Attendance–that person is Sunnyslope Math Teacher Jens Erie.
Erie was recently promoted to take Lovell’s position as Assistant Principal and Dean of Discipline and Attendance.
Erie is not only an important contributor to Sunnyslope but also a beloved father of 2 boys, an avid skateboarder and snowboarder, and the man who brought Sunnyslope a girls golf team in 2023.
Erie said, “In my free time, I skateboard. I’ve kind of slowed down on skateboarding now that I’m 47. I used to skateboard a lot when I was a teenager. I’ve transitioned to snowboarding more so in my free time when there’s snow. I love snowboarding, so that’s my favorite thing to do.”
This love of skateboarding is one of the reasons why he went into his teaching career.
Erie said, “I used to own a skateboard shop, and I was tutoring kids at the shop after it closed, and I saw them succeed, and I just felt like that was gratifying for me to watch them get better in math.”
This fall, Erie will be taking on Lovell’s role as Lovell moves to retire from the public school system and return to the classroom.
Erie has been impactful around campus to both students and teachers, making him a great choice for the open position.
Math Teacher Cameron Licht said, “He’s always been very trustworthy, and if I needed something, I knew I could go to him.”
He isn’t just approachable for teachers to go to but for students at the school to talk to.
Erie said, “I’m most looking forward to helping kids and getting kids through hard times, and helping kids graduate and changing troublemakers. Want to help them turn things around because some of those troublemakers are the coolest kids on campus. So I just want to help those kids finish high school.”
Students who have had him as a teacher or coach know that he will excel at this opportunity.
Junior Caroline Gibson said, “I think with his kindness toward people and his understanding of the students here, he’ll be able to connect and make relationships.”
Students who have had him as a teacher or coach know that he will excel during this new change.
Erie said, “My priority is to keep our campus safe and secure, and I want to support teachers and students in any way I can.”
He has many adequate goals for the Sunnyslope Community to be excited about.
Erie said, “My short-term goals are to try my absolute hardest every day to do the best I can, and my long-term goal is to make our campus safer and to increase student achievement.”
While Erie has 11 great years of experience at Sunnyslope, this is a substantial position change that understandably comes with nerves.
Erie said, “I’m comfortable working with students and their families at changing behaviors, but I feel like my biggest challenge is going to be public speaking and going on the announcements.”
He has some concerns about the change, but he is motivated and will be able to make the effort.
Erie said, “Being at Sunnyslope for 11 years, I feel like I understand the culture of the school and district and feel like the time was right for me to take this next step in my career.”
With the great staff and students behind him, Erie will be able to ease into this new change smoothly
Erie is excited about many things regarding the position change, but he is the most excited to now be able to drive the golf cart around campus.
Erie said, “It’s gonna be great the honor of driving a golf cart and his administrator, I’m really, looking forward to driving that cart around. That’s the real reason why I got this job, I’ve been watching Dr Lovell. I’ve been very envious of him driving the cart around. So I am looking forward to that. Now that you asked me that question, driving the cart is what I’m looking forward to most.”
All in all, even though tensions around school are high, awaiting the position change and how it will turn out, there are high hopes for Erie, along with his adequate ideas for the Sunnyslope community.
