Yesterday, our community broke ground for Westlake’s forthcoming elementary school, currently called West Community Elementary. But do not fear, a name change is near!
If you’re tuned into The Grapevine at all, you probably know that Acreage Pines Principal and Westlake resident Darline Winewski, a 25 year education veteran, was appointed to West Community Elementary’s principal position. And she’s hit the ground running!
I can’t thank Principal Winewski enough for graciously agreeing to an interview here at Westlake Wanderer. It’s worth a read whether you have elementary age kids or not.
Here we go:
“A bit about me. I am a 4th generation Florida native, a true Florida girl at heart. I have an amazing firefighter husband and a son, a Seminole Ridge graduate, who is majoring in Aerospace Engineering at UCF. Both my husband and my son have served on boards and volunteered in various capacities in our community. I was one of the early homeowners in the Hammocks and I have loved watching our community grow. Over the last 7 years, I have met great friends and neighbors and planted my roots. When away from school, I love to read, run and travel.” -Principal Darline Winewski
WW: What inspired you to go into education?
PDW: I was always a teacher at heart. I am the oldest of 3 girls and a whole gaggle of cousins. I went to college for communications/public relations and the whole time my sister was telling me I was going to be a teacher. After working as a training store manager for a large retail chain, my heart proved my sister right and led me to teaching. I knew instantly that I was right where I was supposed to be.
WW: What was your first job in the field?
PDW: I began my career in Broward as a 7th grade Social Studies teacher. I also taught 8th grade American History and served as the acting 6th grade assistant principal during my 6 years at that school. I then became an assistant principal at Coral Springs Middle. There I had an amazing principal mentor and role model, Ian Murray. I went on to go through the leadership learning continuum in Broward and was ready to become a principal, but I was driving from the Acreage to Coral Springs everyday and wanted to get closer to home and serve my community.
WW: So how did you end up at Acreage Pines (AP)?
PDW: Acreage Pines was actually my neighborhood school and my son had attended since Kindergarten. I knew it was this amazing hidden gem. When my son was entering 5th grade the assistant principal was retiring and I jumped at the opportunity. It was tough to leave my Coral Springs home after 7 years, but to have that year with my son and be a part of my community school was amazing. After just one year at Acreage Pines, the principal was promoted and I had the opportunity to become principal. It has been a great experience.
WW: Is there anything you’re particularly proud of about your time at Acreage Pines?
PDW: I am closing out my 10th year as principal and I have this school community that is unmatched. Truly a fox family! I have so many things that I am proud of, my students, my teachers, our programs for students on the Autism Spectrum, but grabbing one stand out is easy. I am most proud of our implementation of the House System, based on the Ron Clark Academy. Over the last two years this program has taken our great school and turned it into something truly unique and special. It takes a whole school concept and breaks it down into smaller houses. It creates this amazing sense of belonging, creates student leaders, fosters a sense of kindness and support throughout the school and it is truly about connections that lead to students feeling empowered to learn at the highest levels. I could talk all day about the benefits. Maybe that’s a separate article 😁.
WW: What motivated you to apply for the principal position at West Community Elementary?
PDW: So, I didn’t actually apply for the position, it was a direct appointment from the superintendent. He knows that I am passionate about living where I work, he knows the pride that I have in the Westlake community and in building the best school for our community. We had some conversations and here I am. It is terribly bittersweet to leave AP. Both as a parent and as an educator, AP has been my home for the last 16 years. It truly is my family. The good thing is that I will still be close and it is not one person that makes a great school. I know the team at Acreage Pines will continue to shine and be great for children.
WW: What is your vision for West Community Elementary program- and/or culture-wise?
PDW: For me it all starts with community and belonging. I want to create a culture where everyone feels welcome. It sounds cliche, but that is truly where it starts. Once people feel connected, safe and welcome, you can do anything. Next is hiring the BEST teachers and staff. People who love children and who want to be there for them everyday. Classrooms will be state of the art, but it is the teaching and learning that goes on in those walls that elevates everything, a place where students are getting the highest caliber instruction. All the pieces come together to create an environment where students are coming out ready to excel at the next level, being great little people that are ready for the world. I mean think about it, we are raising children and teaching them and they may be going into jobs that don’t even exist yet. Who knew that drone pilots and influencers would be a career. We have to prepare them to be thinkers and problem solvers.
WW: How can families follow West Community Elementary’s events, progress, and construction?
PDW: As things start to progress, I plan to put together a Facebook page for updates and information. I want the community involved from the get-go, so some type of monthly opportunity to get together and discuss the progress and what lies ahead and to connect with our families and learn about their needs and their vision for our school will take place. I also want to get the PTO up and running in the coming months, again building that unified support for our children. I think that after summer things will really start to build momentum.
WW: What is most important for Westlake residents to do to ensure a beautiful, innovative, and successful West Community Elementary school and launch?
PDW: Be involved! One of the things that I always live by is that I would rather have 300 parents waiting for me each day to advocate for their children, than no one that cares. We are going to need business partners and volunteers and as I said, to get our PTO up and running. This isn’t the city’s school, or the district’s school or my school, it’s OUR school for our OUR community and together we will make it the best school in PBC.
WW: Any ideas for a new school name, mascot, or colors that you’d like to share with us?
PDW: For the mascot, Coyote. We have so many schools that have panthers and gators, but no Coyotes and we know that Coyotes have made their presence known in Westlake, so why not embrace it! For colors, muted gold and white with a little navy, inspired by our Westlake sunsets (think University of Notre Dame). For naming, I have some ideas, but that actually goes to a board policy. There is a committee with required members that bring their suggestions to the school board. We will ensure that the naming follows all of those policy guidelines. So more on that to come.
“In closing, I am beyond excited for this opportunity to build something so special here in my own community. I am very approachable. I am visible in car drop off, I truly have an open door policy and I want to encourage people to be part of their children’s education. I never leave campus without returning my phone calls or emails. It’s just something I have always done. Even if I don’t have an answer right away, I want families to know they are heard. I cannot wait to get to know all of the families and hear the call of the Coyotes as we build our future!” -Principal Darline Winewski
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