Dr. Tori Cain to Take Over as Principal of Parkway North Next School Year
New principal, Dr. Tori Cain, talks to a student during lunch. “When I was announced to the staff, it was highly emotional,” said Cain. “They responded so warmly and reaffirmed that this is home, this is family and that ‘we’re gonna take care of you like you take care of us.'”
After the announcement of Parkway North’s principal of sixteen years, Dr. Jenny Marquart, was retiring, one question was left in the minds of many: who was going to take on the responsibility of being principal? On March 23, superintendent Dr. Keith Marty announced that Dr. Tori Cain would be Marquart’s successor starting fall of 2017.
Cain, who was formerly the 11th grade principal at North, began her career in in Kansas City at the Lee Summit School District.
“My first administrator job was in Kansas City. That was my first year being an assistant principal. Before that, I was a science teacher and science department chair at my original school when I first moved to Kansas City,” said Cain.
Despite not initially starting her career as an administrator, Cain’s ability to relate and appeal to students was noticed by her peers, prompting them to reach out to her.
“I started actively seeking [administrative positions] because I naturally would end up in the office; I would always get called. No matter what school district I was in, I was always in the office helping. I was lured by kids, and other people would say ‘hey, you work well with this student,’ so I never really sought to be an administrator. It sought me,” said Cain.
After six years of working in education in Kansas City, a move to St. Louis resulted in another administrative position finding its way to Cain.
“My husband, who is an educator, had the opportunity of landing a job here in the St. Louis area four years ago, so we moved. And I had the unique opportunity of landing a position here at North,” said Cain .
Four years later, the opportunity to take a higher position arose. While Cain knew that it was something that she had the ability to take on, it was still something that she had to seriously consider because of the caliber of the position.
“I said to myself ‘is this something that I want to do next?’ I had a lot of support but it’s still something that I had to take and ask if this is something that I’m willing to do. It felt natural, but I also want to make sure that I can still serve students and serve families,” said Cain.
The process for becoming principal is a long one. There is first and initial screening of all of the candidates for the position. There is then a district level panel, and finally, a building panel that is comprised of three panels within itself.
“I got to hear a lot of feedback through the questions [asked during the building level panels]. I got to hear things that were important to the staff, students, parents, and community at large. I learned in the process and even a lot about myself. I also learned that I was more supported than I thought,” said Cain.
Once the decision was made and the verdict was announced, the reception to Cain was warm. Many were congratulatory, including current principal Dr. Jenny Marquart.
“I was delighted. I think she is a very good person and a very good administrator. She will be a wonderful leader for this community. I think it is good that there is somebody who knows the community, but is still rather new to the community. She will do a great job of making the changes that need to be made and keeping the things that need to be sustained and moving forward with the mission and the culture and community that we have,” said Marquart.
Despite Cain’s official duties as principal starting next school year, the transitional period from one principal to the next has begun now.
“I have already started some of [the duties for next year] now. There are some things that I am working on with Dr. Marquart, including her bringing me up to speed. Even though we are on a team, there are some things that she works on solely, so she’s making sure that I know what those things are. She’s also made herself available so if I need her beyond, she’s a phone call away,” said Cain.
Although stepping into something new can be challenging, Cain is ready to face those challenges head on and work hard to serve the North community to the best of her ability.
“Whatever comes my way, I’m going to find a way to deal with it. I don’t look to run, I may run to it, approach it and say ‘what’s next?’” said Cain.
by Roshae Hemmings, assistant editor