Mercer Island High School athletics tops list | School briefs
Published 3:55 pm Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Issaquah educator is new West Mercer principal
At the regular School Board meeting April 14, Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano introduced Carol Best as the next principal at West Mercer Elementary. Best will take over for Aimee Batliner-Gillette, who will serve as principal at Elementary No. 4, effective July 1.
Best currently works in the Issaquah School District as the elementary special programs coordinator. She was a classroom teacher for 12 years and served as a program assistant and dean of students at Discovery Elementary and Newcastle Elementary. A National Board-certified teacher and coach, Best earned her undergraduate degree at Washington State University and received a master’s in teaching from City University.
“One of the things I’m excited about with Mercer Island is the smaller nature of the school district,” Best told the board. “I started in Issaquah when there was about 8,000 students, now there’s 19,000 students, so the size of the district, the complexity of the district, the layers of administrators has grown significantly. I’m really looking forward to getting back to a district that’s a little smaller so I can get to know more people, and really have an impact and a one-to-one relationship with all the administrators on the team.”
Osprey return to new nest
Islanders passing through Islander Stadium may have noticed the return of the osprey to their new nest, located atop a tree adjacent to the light pole they used to inhabit over the stadium stands and concession area.
The nest was created by licensed arborist Tom Otto of Canopy Conservation. It was placed in February.
Mercer Island High School athletics tops list
USA Today lists Mercer Island High school at the top of its list of the most athletically dominant high schools in Western Washington. The ranking was based on number of state titles, notable alumni, and the success of the teams over the past year.
The school has won 76 state championships, including: 32 girls tennis, seven boys tennis, six boys lacrosse and boys swimming (placed second the two years MI didn’t win), four boys basketball and girls swimming, one girls and boys cross country, boys and girls golf, girls track and field, and volleyball.
Notable alumni include Quin Snyder, Dave Wainhouse and Mary Wayte.
This year, the Islanders took second at state for boys swimming, took second in girls swimming, and made it to the quarterfinals in volleyball. Mercer Island has taken the last six girls tennis titles, and the last four for boys tennis.
