Posted Apr 08, 2022 5:55 AM

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Hays USD 489 has hired Chris Sramek as the new Roosevelt Elementary School principal starting July 1.

She will be replacing Keri Peterson, who is leaving the district to pursue other opportunities.

Sramek, 42, is currently the school psychologist at Roosevelt.

This is Sramek's third year with the West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, which includes Hays.

Prior to Hays, she was a school psychologist in Great Bend for 14 years. She served students in grades K-12 during her time in the special education cooperative in Great Bend, which also serves Ellinwood, Hoisington and Otis-Bison.

Sramek is a graduate of Fort Hays State University with bachelor's and master's degrees in school psychology. She additionally has an education specialist certification, which is required for school psychologists, and an education administration endorsement.

Sramek said she wanted to pursue a leadership position in education. She considered applying for a position as a special education director. However, she decided she wanted to continue to work closely with children, and a principal position would allow her to do that.

Sramek is a native of Walker and a graduate of Victoria High School.

"Our motto this year has been going from good to great," Sramek said of Roosevelt. "My goal is to move our building to great. We have a lot of different changes going on in the district with MTSS and other initiatives, so I really want to get those going."

MTSS, which stands for multi-tiered systems of support, is a program that identifies and offers additional support to students who need it to meet their learning goals.

Sramek is a member of the Kansas Association of School Psychologists, has helped with the Suicide Prevention Walk in Hays and also volunteers to help her niece with 4-H projects.

Sramek lives in Hays with her husband, Ryan.