Who is North Marion Primary School’s New Leader?

By Jillian Daley

Most of the North Marion Primary School (NMPS) community has heard that Principal Andy Kronser is leaving at the end of the school year. But, even though incoming Principal Allison Hunt has been a part of the North Marion School District (NMSD) community for nearly two decades, many people may not know that, for this former cheer captain and Artist-in-Residence Coordinator, it’s the first and only district of her career.

Kronser will be leading an elementary school in the Salem-Keizer School District and his last day will be June 30, also Hunt’s last day in her current role as North Marion’s Vice Principal of Elementary Teaching and Learning. 

Kronser’s Farewell

Before he leaves, Kronser wanted the community to know that the NMSD has been an amazing place for him to learn and grow as an administrator.

“I am thankful for the lasting connections I have made with students, families and staff in the district and for being given the opportunity to be involved at so many different levels in our organization,” he says. “As I move to a new position with Salem-Keizer Public Schools, I am looking forward to working closer to my family and continuing to grow as an administrator. But North Marion will always have a very special place in my heart.”

Hunt’s Experience and Education

Since Hunt came to North Marion in 2003, the community has seen her career soar, four years ago culminating in her first school building administrator role, typically described as the Elementary Vice Principal, at North Marion Intermediate and Primary schools — and now, with Hunt assuming the role of principal of NMPS.

“I am really excited to ‘come home’ to the Primary School,” Hunt says. “It is where I started my career. I never imagined myself in the Principal role when I started, but here I am. I want to support our students and families in every way that we can. I will rely on my staff to help continue to make NMPS a great place to learn and grow. The staff is WONDERFUL! I am sad to be leaving my colleagues at the Intermediate School, but luckily, I will be right next door.”

She started teaching first grade at NMPS in 2003, later shifting to roles as the Media/Technology Teacher at NMPS and then Beginning Teacher Mentor for the School District.

“One of my biggest achievements that I am proud of is bringing the Artist-in-Residence project to NMPS,” Hunt says. “The culmination art piece is hanging outside the front doors. That was such a fun project for students, staff, and volunteers!”

Hunt’s Devotion to North Marion

When Hunt says that she started her career at NMPS, she means it. North Marion is her one and only district. When she joined North Marion in 2003, she was connected to the community, renting a home in Aurora to be close to Willamette University while she was earning her Master of Arts in Teaching. North Marion has been her school community ever since.

“North Marion is a great community!” says Hunt, who earned her Administrative License from George Fox University. “I love working with the students, families, and staff. It is so fun to see your students learn and grow. And that is easy to do since we are all on one campus. The friendships I have created with my colleagues are one of a kind. North Marion is full of opportunities to learn about so many different facets of education.”

Hunt says that it was, in fact, the collaborative culture at NM that prepared her to become an effective administrator. 

“Early on in my teaching career, I joined our Leadership Team at the Primary School,” she says. “Working closely with teachers and our principal showed me how important it is to always be student focused, gather feedback from stakeholders, be a good listener, look at problems creatively, and have fun! One of the best experiences for me was working with beginning teachers across the School District. I was able to see the learning that was happening in other school buildings and how the foundation set at the Primary School was being built upon.”

Hunt’s Inspiration to Become a Teacher

Hunt says that she became a teacher for a few reasons, one of which was her first-grade teacher, Miss Stanich. Teaching also runs in the family. 

“I volunteered in a first-grade classroom while I was in college and loved it,” says Hunt, who received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Oregon. “At that time, I was also working in the Psychology Department at the U of O, running some research programs that involved younger children. I have two aunts who are teachers, as well. My sister is also a teacher (middle school).”

Hunt’s Hobbies and Family Life

Hunt was born and raised in Portland and was active in high school cheerleading growing up, serving as the cheer captain for three seasons.

When she’s not teaching, Hunt is playing board games and card games with her husband Troy and their two children, Lexi, 11, and Tyson, 5. Hunt also enjoys spending time eating and laughing with friends or on her own reading mystery novels, putting together puzzles, and trying new recipes in her Instant Pot (likely with Aussiedoodle Penny lurking near the kitchen). She loves living in the Portland metro area and enjoys driving past the North Marion’s verdant fields on her way to work.

“The area is beautiful!” Hunt says. “I love the different towns that we serve. It is fun to see farmland and neighborhoods so close together.”

To share your story on the North Marion School District, email Communications Specialist Jillian Daley.