Larson Heights principal promoted to district role

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District announced that Larson Heights Elementary Principal Chris Kalmbach had been promoted via internal hiring to Assistant Executive Director of Teaching and Learning. He will take up his post as soon as a new principal for Larson Heights has been identified.  

“I am thrilled to welcome Chris Kalmbach as our new Assistant Executive Director of Elementary Teaching and Learning,” said MLSD Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Yvonne Walker. “Chris brings exceptional skills in data analysis and a deep understanding of elementary systems that drive student success. His expertise will be a tremendous complement to our team as we continue to support excellence in teaching and learning for all students.” 

Kalmbach earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education and English from Western Washington University, a master’s degree from Grand Canyon University, and his principal certification from Eastern Washington University. He is a National Board Certified teacher and has received MLSD’s Excellence Award.  

While Kalmbach is excited for the new role, he said he will miss his time at Larson Heights.  

“The thing I’m going to miss the most, and I’m already missing it, is just the kids and our families and the staff,” Kalmbach said. 

He said interactions with staff and students preparing for the upcoming semester have already been rewarding, and he knows he’ll miss seeing each of the students grow on a day-to-day basis. However, he sees the new assistant director role as one that will allow him to analyze challenges and help students throughout the district succeed. His past experience as a math coach for the district and his knowledge of the challenges at his current campus set him up to help the district improve learning outcomes, he said.  

“My vantage point for the last four years has been Larson Heights, and so I really want to kind of get back down there and assess where we’re at with some of those initiatives (from when I coached and taught). And then, start developing five-year plans and three-year plans and one-year plans to help move those things forward,” he said.  

To do that, Kalmbach said he plans to focus on collaboration. By working with staff, parents, students and others, he wants to identify challenges and take them head-on with buy-in from those who have to be invested to get the work done.  

“It’s about me kind of casting a vision of where I think we need to go, and then getting community input, getting student input, getting staff input on what that should look like,” he said.  

Those looking to support elementary learning outcomes for students need to get involved, he said. He’s hoping parents, teachers and other members of the community will encourage students toward habits that lead to lifelong learning.  

“I think the biggest thing that we can do as a school system is help cultivate lifelong learners and students who leave our system, who believe in their abilities and are ready to contribute,” Kalmbach said.  

He emphasized encouraging children to read, reading to children and being involved with them to encourage their healthy interests and goals. Especially when the opportunity arises to lead by example.