Lang, new principal at Lincoln, preparing for next year

As he prepares for his first year as principal, Justin Lang looks forward to bringing a voice to every student.

Lang, a special education teacher for the district, will succeed Mary Hawkins as principal of Lincoln Elementary next year.

Lang, who currently works at McKinley Elementary, is laying the groundwork for the 2024-25 school year, arranging one-on-one meets with Lincoln staff to learn more about the school’s strengths and their concerns. Hawkins was hired for the role in 2013. She will continue to work for the district, stepping into a mentorship role for new teachers next year.

As principal, Lang plans to call upon his background in special education to promote inclusivity for students and staff alike.

“It’s always been a passion of mine to make sure that someone who’s marginalized, or someone who isn’t always seen as a traditional student, has a voice, has an advocate. Now getting to move into this role as a principal, it’s not just me being an advocate for all the kids, but giving that same sense of advocacy for everybody that’s in my care, everybody who’s working with me,” said Lang.

While he expects it to be a big change, it’s also a homecoming of sorts. Lang’s career as a special ed teacher began at Lincoln in 2009. He transferred to the now-defunct Willow Creek Intermediate School for a year, and later to McKinley.

Hawkins said Lang’s role in the district has made it easier for the two of them to connect and plan for a smooth transition.

“We have been able to collaborate a lot,” she said. “It’s been really wonderful to have a transition with somebody, and I think I’ll continue to support him any way I can next year.”

As she shifts into the next phase of her career, Hawkins hopes to free up more time to spend with her family and travel.

Lang pointed to his strong connections at Lincoln as a major asset. In addition to reconnecting with co-workers from his previous stint at the school, he also knows many of the teachers through the active roles he’s taken in the teacher’s union over the years.

Lang said people have encouraged him to look for leadership roles for some time, but he settled on his current path around six years ago, thanks to a conversation with his current principal at McKinley, Justin Kiel.

Explaining why he saw the makings of a good principal in Lang, Kiel identified three characteristics — Lang’s leadership, integrity and drive to learn.

“Justin is about doing what’s right for kids, doing what’s right for people, and I think that’s going to serve us well not only at Lincoln but also on the elementary admin team,” said Kiel.

Kiel said he’s seen Lang continue to grow since that conversation, gaining a “systems view” understanding of how a school is run. While he’s sad to see Lang go, Kiel is excited for the impact he’ll have at Lincoln.

Following Kiel’s encouragement, Lang took on the role of lead teacher at McKinley, supporting other teachers and managing behavioral situations with students. While daunting at first, it gave him years to practice the skills of a principal.

“The first time I had to make a phone call home for a behavioral situation, I think I stared at the phone for a good five or six minutes before I even made that phone call. Now I feel like I’m able to pick up the phone and have a very honest, open conversation because it’s become more natural to convey that message to families,” said Lang.

As a parent himself, Lang said he understands how important it is for parents to have an open line of communication with their children’s school.

He plans to spend his first months in the role learning from staff and acclimating to the new environment. Lang stressed the importance of providing the same level of quality education across the district, but said each building has a unique culture.

He won’t be the only one making a big adjustment.

The new elementary attendance areas approved in March will take effect this fall, moving hundreds of students to new schools. While some new students will arrive, many will be leaving Lincoln to alleviate overcrowding at the school.

Lang acknowledged it will be a challenging move for families, but his conversations with Lincoln staff have assured him students will be taken care of next year.

“They’re going to pick up where they left off,” said Lang.

Wanting an inside look at how new boundaries would impact the district, Lang was one of the teachers who volunteered to serve on the input team that reviewed the changes and offered feedback.

With preparations underway for next school year, Lang is excited for what the future brings.

“It’s a big change for me, but it’s one that I’m very eager to get going. I look forward to starting the year fresh,” he said.