Meet Lana Penley, who is in her 11th year as principal at Marysville Elementary School. We asked her four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
I became a principal to play some small role in a positive change in education. I want to be a light, a helper and a part of a new way of focusing on what’s possible not what’s wrong.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
I am the first college graduate in my family.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
Adele, Sugarland for inspiration and calm, piano for calm down.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
“The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.”

Meet John Ferraro, who is in his third year as principal at Beverly Cleary K-8 School. We asked him four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
I became a principal because I like working with the entire school population, I like problem solving, and I like challenges.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
I grew up in Walla Walla, Washington.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
The music I listen to the most is country.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
I am currently reading a novel by James Patterson (I love mystery and spy novels!).

Meet Lorna Fast Buffalo Horse, who is in her sixth year as principal at Alliance High School. We asked her four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
I was teaching at the Spanish English International School, which was part of the Roosevelt campus, and I was one of many teachers who felt a deep commitment to our students and our small school. Because I had had a number of leadership positions already, it seemed that I was in the best position to jump in and get licensed. My first two years as a principal were at SEIS.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
When I was 14, my sister and I worked as janitors for a small town “mall” (about five businesses). We cleaned there every night and shared the salary. My sister quit after about a year and I continued on for another couple of years. This added to my summer job at a drive in restaurant.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
As a doctoral student, I listen to the instrumental chill music station on Pandora when I am reading or writing. When I am driving, cooking or cleaning house, it is classic rock and roll or Native American music.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
“Crazy Brave” by Joy Harjo, and “Make Me!” By Eric Toshalis.

Meet Diana Kruger, who is in her first year as principal at Arleta K-8 School. We asked her four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
I became a principal to support innovative and creative teachers, and great, amazing learning environments for students.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
I collect religious artifacts from around the world.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
My playlist is filled with Pink, Alicia Keys, Kesha, Andra Day. Mostly inspiring female artists.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
“The Atomic City Girls” by Janet Beard, a historical fiction chronicling a World War II Manhattan Project research facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. “Learning to Improve,” the book we received at our August leadership (still working on it). And “Bears in the Streets” by Lisa Dickey, an interesting book about a woman who documented the changes in Russia over the course of 20 years through the eyes of an eclectic group of people.

Meet Jill Sage, who is in her fourth year as principal at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. We asked her four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
I became a principal because I wanted to do more to support teachers to meet the needs of students who had been previously invisible in the classroom and thus were unserved.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
My wife and I chose our last name of “Sage” when we got married.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
My favorite “station” right now is Michael Jackson radio.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
“Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain” by Zaretta Hammond.

Meet Reiko William, who is in her third year as principal at Sabin Elementary School. We asked her four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
I have always loved working with children and families to provide holistic supports to position families for a better life. I believed that a principalship would be a key opportunity to leverage opportunities for disenfranchised families and particularly under-represented families.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
I relocated to Portland from Baltimore, Maryland, 22 years ago.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
Earth, Wind and Fire, “Reasons.”

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
“The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson.

Meet Leah Dickey, who is in her first year as principal at Harrison Park K-8 School. We asked her four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
There is a new challenge every day ... it is never boring. I get to work with students, and adults, and help them grow.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
In my free time I like to repurpose furniture to relax.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
Ever changing, but recently the Avett Brothers and 90s country.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
“The Courage to Lead" and "Heartland."

Meet Kevin Walker, who is in his first year as principal at Capitol Hill Elementary School. We asked him four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
I became a principal to use my voice to dismantle institutional racism and close the achievement and opportunity gaps within our education system and to ensure that every student has the opportunity to realize their full potential. The reason I get out of bed every morning is to educate, motivate and empower students and young people to reach their highest dreams.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
I competed in Junior Olympics while in elementary school. I competed in the long jump.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
On Pandora in my office, laid-back beach music.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
“Learning to Improve.”

Meet Richard Smith, who is in his first year as principal at Lent K-8 School. We asked him four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
I want to help all students find success in education and to assist teachers along the way.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
I used to want to be an actuary.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
Early 2000s rock music.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
“For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood and the Rest of Y'all Too” by Dr. Christopher Emdin.

Meet Annie Tabshy, who is in her fifth year as principal at Grout Elementary School. We asked her four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
I became a principal because I was a successful educator especially with underserved students and I wanted to make a greater impact than one classroom at a time.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
I was born in Laramie, Wyoming, and still love sage brush and the high desert.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
A little bit of Sam Cooke, Beatles, Luke Bryan and Alicia Keys.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
“All The Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr.

Meet Kevin Crotchett, who is in his sixth year as principal at Jackson Middle School. We asked him four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
I struggled in middle school but really learned to enjoy school in high school and college. In many ways, I became a teacher because I wanted to help kids who also struggle to learn.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
I was a synchronized swimming teacher at a summer camp for two years :-).

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
Mostly pop. Some country. A touch of rap.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.”

Meet Kristyn Westphal, who is in her fourth year as principal at Hosford Elementary School. We asked her four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
I wanted to be able to impact more kids than I could in just my classroom (I taught Language Arts to students grades 7-12).

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
I lived in Byelarus when I was 14.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
A little of everything -- Cardi B, Chris Stapleton, Juan Gabriel, Drake, Chance the Rapper, Dua Lipa.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
Most favorite recent reads: “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi; “There There” by Tommy Orange; “Waking Lions” by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen; “We are Okay” by Nina LaCour. Also always have “Staying Alive: Real Poems for Unreal Times” on hand.

Meet Raddy Lurie, who is in his 11th year as principal at Alameda Elementary School. We asked him four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
It is an incredible challenge and I still get to teach! I also love my school community.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
I was born in Kiev in the Ukraine and moved to the states at age 5.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
Led Zeppelin, reggae, Grateful Dead, Phish, old school hip-hop. Not all in one playlist, though.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
“Tears We Cannot Stop, A Sermon to White America,” by Michael Eric Dyson.

Meet Curtis Wilson Jr., who is in his sixth year as principal at Benson High School. We asked him four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
I wanted to support students and teachers at a “Macro-Level” and be able to support my building with all the resources needed that a Principal could provide.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
I’m a huge fan of Taylor Swift, One Direction and Billy Joel.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
Please see the answer to #2.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
I read nothing but Stephen King books. I’ve been a member of his book club since I was 16 years old.

Meet Carol Campbell, who is in her sixth year as principal at Grant High School. We asked her four questions.

1. Why did you become a principal?
I experienced some leadership roles as a teacher and enjoyed the collaboration with other educators to improve teaching and learning. I decided to pursue the high school principal position for the opportunity to grow as an educational leader and to have a greater impact on improving the school experience, especially for historically underserved students.

2. What is a little-known fact about yourself?
I like fly fishing and someday would like to learn how to tie flies.

3. What music is on your Spotify or Pandora play list?
On Spotify I have a variety of music including: Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, George Strait, Fleetwood Mac, Bonnie Raitt, Chris Stapleton, Alicia Keys.

4. What book is currently on your nightstand (or on the Kindle on your nightstand)?
Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.