Lockport Union-Sun & Journal — A change is coming to Newfane Elementary School.

Pamela Leibring has appointed the building’s new principal, following a special Board of Education meeting Friday. Leibring will being her new post Sept. 1.

Superintendent Christine J. Tibbetts called the appointment a perfect match, saying by pairing Leibring with the teachers, staff and students at the school Newfane would see some great things.

“During her time here, Pam has truly demonstrated a strong work ethic and a commitment to the students and the community,” Tibbetts said. “I’m very excited about this appointment.”

Leibring has been a teacher and administrator in the Newfane Central School District for over 14 years, Tibbetts said. For the past few years, Leibring was the assistant principal at Newfane Intermediate and Middle Schools. 

A major change took place between the schools last year, as the district reduced the number of the buildings it owned from five to four. In the reorganization, the fourth grade moved to Newfane Elementary School while fifth grade became part of the middle school, which did share the same building on Transit Road with the intermediate school.

The intermediate level was eliminated and the section of the building is rented out to Orleans/Niagara BOCES.

Leibring was heavily involved with the introduction of AVID at the middle school last year. The Advancement Via Individual Determination program aims to improve college readiness for students who may struggle academically. This is done by helping students develop the habits and skills needed to succeed through unique and innovative ways.

Roughly 4,500 schools in 45 states have adopted an AVID program, serving about 400,000 students in grades 4 through 12. Leibring was the site coordinator for Newfane.

Leibring will replace Kathleen Nagle, whose retirement was accepted by the board last month. Nagle will retire Aug. 31, after having been the elementary principal since November 1998.

According to the state education department, Newfane Elementary had 379 students during the 2010-11 school year with 140 kids in fourth grade, but that was before the reorganization when the elementary school was grades one through three. The school now has first through fourth grade students.