Principal Profiles

I was inspired to enter education when I realized how much I love serving others, especially through teaching and building personal connections. My greatest joy comes from helping people grow, learn and discover their own path to success. There is nothing more rewarding to me than knowing I played a part in someone’s journey toward reaching their goals.

​My path to becoming a principal has been somewhat unique. Over the past 30 years, I’ve had the privilege of serving in various educational roles including from traditional teaching to being an english language development teacher, learning specialist, gifted and talented facilitator, professional development specialist, district coordinator, and assistant principal. 

I grew up in a family of educators and knew I wanted to be an educator on my first day of kindergarten. My mom, Phyllis, taught at my elementary school and my father, Doug McFarland, was a principal right here in Douglas County! He began his administrative career at Sedalia Elementary and then later opened Northridge Elementary and also Cresthill Middle School. My older sister, Kimberly, went into teaching as well. Every night our dinner table conversations were surrounded by how the school day was for all of us.

I was adopted at six years old by the world's most amazing family. I arrived in America knowing only a few words of English: "Hi" and "French fries." I was lucky enough to have an extraordinary ELD teacher who did everything she could to help me express myself until I could acquire English, and in her classroom I discovered the power of learning. Learning is transformative, and helping students find their voice (like Ms. Rieger did for me) is still what inspires me to show up every day.