Contact: Lisa Deffendall • First Posted: Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Fayette County Schools Superintendent Stu Silberman is happy to announce the appointment of a new principal for Cardinal Valley Elementary School. Ivonne Beegle, who has been the district English as a Second Language content specialist for two years, will assume her new post on July 2.

A third generation educator whose father was also a principal, Beegle has been working in the Fayette County Public Schools since she joined the staff at Maxwell Elementary in 2000. After four years, first as a language arts teacher and then as a language arts resource teacher working with students in grades kindergarten through fifth, Beegle moved to Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. She taught Spanish at Dunbar for a year before joining the staff at “It’s About Kids” Support Services as a content specialist supporting all of the English as a Second Language programs in the school district. 

“I feel honored, I feel humbled, I feel blessed, I was speechless,” Beegle said of her appointment. “I’m so excited to be joining a wonderful school like Cardinal Valley. Cardinal Valley is a microcosm for the rest of the country; we have our own little cosmopolitan flair. I think it’s important for people to see the richness of the neighborhood and the people in it … our kids are in the unique position of being able to learn about people from different places, languages and cultures. The kids at Cardinal Valley will be prepared to compete in a diverse society.”

Beegle’s personal experience as an immigrant to the United States at the age of eight will serve her well as the leader at Cardinal Valley, where close to 61 percent of the students receive help learning English. She was born in Latin America and moved with her family to Canada before moving to California.

“Spanish is my first language,” she said. “French is my second and English is my third.” 

After high school, Beegle joined the United States Army. She was on active duty for four years, serving during the Persian Gulf War, and then became a reservist. After her military service, she moved to Lexington, where she began pursuing her education degree. In an interesting twist of foreshadowing, she did her research for her master’s degree at Cardinal Valley Elementary.

Beegle will replace Principal Matt Perkins, who has accepted a position with the Kentucky Department of Education as a highly skilled educator. 

“Matt did a really good job while he was there of fostering a positive culture in the building, which provides a foundation that we can build from here,” said Beegle. “Cardinal Valley has a lot of highly qualified, very dedicated teachers. I’m looking forward to getting to know the faculty and staff and learn their strengths so that they can help lay the bricks for the model school of the future.” 

Beegle’s goals include further developing an atmosphere at the school “where teachers are valued and parents feel welcome. I want to provide a sense of belonging for each and every family.” 

Her vision is to educate the whole child, offering instruction in art, music, theater and world languages in order to serve students academically, socially and emotionally. Hoping to partner with community groups, she’d like to see the school become a “thriving center for community involvement.”

“Ivonne is extremely knowledgeable in the areas of curriculum, assessment and English as a Second Language,” said Elementary School Director Fabio Zuluaga. “She is very passionate and cares a great deal about kids. Cardinal Valley will become a model school for all kids under her leadership.”

“I can tell you that her excitement is contagious,” said Fayette County Schools Superintendent Stu Silberman. “We’re very happy to have her. She comes out of a very strong field of candidates and she has the leadership skills that will take Cardinal Valley to the next level.”