New Gardnerville principal has big plans

Gardnerville Elementary School’s new principal plans to make school so epic that students want to attend on weekends, too.

“GES needs to be a place where the students want to come to school, it needs to be so great and engaging that they want to be here on Saturday,” said Marcy Guthrie Ed.D.

Guthrie was recently appointed by the Douglas County School District as the school’s new principal, beginning in the 2023-2024 school year.

Guthrie’s commitment to providing a safe, supportive and positive learning environment aligns with the Douglas County School District’s mission to empower, prepare, inspire and connect students, parents and the community.

“I want us to do wonderful things for our students and lead the way in whatever we want to lead in,” she said.

Guthrie is currently serving as the superintendent at Chawanakee United School District in Fresno, Calif., where she was awarded the ACSA Region 2 Superintendent of the Year Award in 2021.

She is looking forward to relocating to Douglas County on a permanent basis.

“It’s a beautiful place to live,” she said. “It’s not overcrowded and not polluted. I am just so excited for our forever home in Douglas County.”

Guthrie earned a bachelor’s degree in child development from San Diego State University, her master’s in educational leadership from Fresno Pacific University and holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Fresno State University.

During her career, she served as the superintendent in the Mother Lode Unified School District, as the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction in the Kings Canyon Joint Unified School District, and as an elementary school principal in the Clovis Unified School District and the Hanford Elementary School District.

Guthrie said she is excited to take the role of principal at Gardnerville Elementary.

“When I look back on my professional career it was when I was a teacher and working with students at the elementary that brought me great joy,” she said.

She plans to collaborate with staff, parents and students to continue to foster a culture of collaboration, creativity and innovation at Gardnerville Elementary.

Guthrie is also excited to develop new partnership and initiatives that will enhance the educational experience for all students.

“We are thrilled to welcome Marcy to our team,” said Douglas County Superintendent Keith Lewis. “We believe she has the vision, experience and leadership skills to drive Gardnerville Elementary School towards greater achievements committed to the innovative learning of all. We are confident that Marcy will provide the guidance, support and inspiration our students need to enable them to flourish and accomplish their goals.”