Story aired here Sept. 26, 2014.
Author: Bryce Newberry
Reporter | KPRC-TV
Local youngster pushes fireworks ban
Story aired here July 14, 2014.
After attending a City Council meeting as a requirement for his summer class, Bryce was turned on to this story lead and requested an interview with the 11-year-old right when the meeting ended. They went on the record the next day (Friday), and Bryce spent the weekend finishing the story to air Monday on KOHO.
Story aired here Aug. 21, 2014.
Since the 11-year-old girl urged the City Council to ban fireworks, they promptly held a public hearing on fireworks to discuss the possibility of a ban with local officials and citizens. Bryce attended that meeting, conducted interviews with officials immediately after, and finalized this report to air the next morning.
Big changes could hit daily schedule at WHS
Story aired here Dec. 2, 2013.
Bryce likes this report because of its timeliness and multiple perspectives provided by the sources. A change is most always controversial, and this change definitely was, so the reaction piece was pertinent to getting the whole story.
WHS student facing rape charges
Story broke here Sept. 11, 2014 and continued to be updated for about two weeks.
BREAKING Sept. 11 2:00 p.m.
A Wenatchee High School freshman boy has been arrested and booked into juvenile detention on an alleged three counts of third-degree rape, making his preliminary appearance in Chelan County Superior Court this morning.
WHS Principal Bob Celebrezze said this afternoon that the investigation being conducted by the Wenatchee School District and the Wenatchee Police Department is ongoing, but wouldn’t comment on whether the incident happened on school time or under school staff supervision.
Chelan County Court Clerk Kim Morrison said this afternoon that the court found reasonable grounds for pressing charges in today’s preliminary appearance. The defense questioned the legitimacy of the allegations against the suspect in court today. The court determined that the suspect is a minor threat to community safety, Morrison said.
An arraignment hearing is scheduled for Sept. 25. The court set bond at $50,000 today, and the suspect remains in juvenile detention, Morrison said.
Celebrezze declined comment on if there were other suspects involved. While he wanted to comment on the number of students affected by the incident, he said he wouldn’t comment due to the ongoing investigation. Celebrezze did not comment on whether the student had been expelled.
Celebrezze also declined to comment on any teachers or district employees who are under investigation in relation to the incident at this time, again citing the ongoing investigation.
The police are conducting interviews, Celebrezze said, and this case could go on for a long time. Multiple detectives are working the case, Celebrezze said.
Third degree rape is a class C felony, which could entail five years of jail time and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
This story is developing and updates will be posted.
UPDATE Sept. 12 11:45 a.m.
A 14-year-old Wenatchee High School student remains in juvenile detention this morning after Thursday’s preliminary hearing on three counts of rape in Chelan County Superior Court.
Juvenile prosecutor Allen Blackmon was not available for comment this morning, but Chelan County Prosecuting Attorney Doug Shae said the deadline for pressing charges against the juvenile for a possible three counts of second-degree rape, which allegedly occurred on a school athletic bus trip Saturday, is Monday.
The Apple Leaf originally reported that the student was being held on three counts of third-degree rape, according to court records, but following yesterday’s preliminary hearing, the court found probable cause for upping the charges to rape in the second degree. There are three student victims in the case, according to a report today by The Wenatchee World.
The difference between second- and third-degree rape is second-degree rape is a class A felony, compared to a class C felony attached to third-degree rape. A class A felony could mean, at the most, life in prison and/or a fine of up to $50,000.
WHS Principal Bob Celebrezze made an automated call to all WHS students and families last night, indicating that an incident happened on Saturday on a charter bus. Celebrezze held a mandatory staff meeting this morning, and assured the district is working closely with authorities and that measures have been taken to assure that all students and staff are safe. The World reported today the accused student has been expelled.
Shae said the student might have a record with the courts, but declined to comment on any specific incidents in the past involving the accused student. The court will decide, likely following the Sept. 25 arraignment, if the student will be charged as an adult, Shae said, if charges are filed.
Wenatchee Police Captain Doug Jones was unavailable for comment this morning. The lead detective on the case is Jared Reinfeld, who declined to comment. The student’s attorney, Brandon Redal, was not available for comment.
A detention hearing is scheduled for Sept. 18, when the court will decide whether to keep holding the accused student in juvenile detention based on the status of the case at that time, Shae said.
“We walk a tight line,” Shae said, noting the public’s right to know and the defendant’s right to a fair trial.
A WHS football coach has been placed on paid administrative leave for his coaching position, but is still teaching at WHS. The leave is common practice for a thorough investigation to take place, according to John Brangwin, the coach’s attorney. The coach is not a suspect, but a witness, in the case, he said.
“I can’t imagine any charge on the coach, especially in relation to supervision,” Brangwin said, “but we have to wait for the facts.” Brangwin said the coach made regular checks of the school bus.
According to Brangwin, there are no specific guidelines for teachers or chaperones on school bus trips. Wenatchee School District Transportation Director Marcia Hahn and Assistant Superintendent Jon DeJong were unavailable for comment this morning.
“When all the players left at night, he (the coach) had no reason to think anything happened,” Brangwin said. “We can’t conclude from his observations that it did or didn’t happen.”
Brangwin fully expects the football coach to be reinstated after the investigation.
Reinfeld said the investigation will likely take about two more weeks.
Emily Cieslak, Evie Hyde, Reno Franklin, Josey Meats, and Jackson Powell contributed to this report.
UPDATE Sept. 16 3:20 p.m.
Formal charges were filed yesterday in the case against a freshman boy accused of sexually assaulting three other students on a Wenatchee High School football bus trip. He faces three counts of second-degree rape.
The 14-year-old was arrested Wednesday and remains in juvenile detention on $50,000 bond.
He will appear in court Thursday for a detention hearing, where the court will decide if he can be released from juvie on house arrest.
The suspect is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 25. Second-degree rape could mean life in prison and/or a fine of up to $50,000. The court won’t decide until after Sept. 25 if the student will be charged as an adult.
A football coach remains on paid administrative leave at this time, while the investigation is continued, his attorney, John Brangwin, said in an email this afternoon.
“My client was placed on administrative leave by the district from coaching only. The stated purpose of the leave is to allow the district to conduct an investigation into the alleged ‘rape’ on the charter bus,” Brangwin said in an email. “Keep in mind that ‘rape’ requires a lack of consent.
“As I understand the allegations there was horseplay and the players may have been poking each other in the anal area. I don’t believe anyone is alleging penetration under clothing, which is probably what your readers are thinking,” Brangwin’s email said.
Brangwin is concerned about the allegations and what they entail at this time, but that information is subject to hearing and trial.
“Your readers are also probably thinking of rape as a sexual act, but I don’t think the facts will support that either,” Brangwin emailed. “My client was diligent in supervising the bus ride, beyond the requirements of his contract, and in so doing he did not see anything that was amiss, nor did anyone report something being amiss during the ride or immediately after.”
The Wenatchee School District is still conducting an internal investigation, so Brangwin said it’s unclear how long the coaching paid administrative leave will last. The coach is still being paid for his teaching duties at WHS.
The coach has been instructed to not talk with students on the team regarding the incident in an effort to protect the integrity of the investigation, Brangwin said.
UPDATE Sept. 19 5:05 p.m.
The Wenatchee High School freshman accused of second-degree rape won’t be getting out of juvenile detention just yet, after the court ruled yesterday to continue holding him on $50,000 bond.
The defendant’s attorney, Brandon Redal, requested yesterday to eliminate bail for the teen, but the prosecutor objected and bail was not removed. Redal, who is a public defender, was appointed to this case, a Chelan County Clerk’s Office staffer said this morning.
Chelan County Court Commissioner Bart Vandegrift also decided yesterday that the defendant will continue to be held, unless the defense can provide more evidence.
The defendant was charged with third-degree assault after an incident at Pioneer Middle School in January, the Chelan County Clerk’s Office staffer said this morning.
The Sept. 6 alleged rape on a freshman football team charter bus violated the defendant’s community supervision requirements.
The teen was being held on $1,500 cash bail for the January assault, but yesterday the court revoked those conditions of release due to the alleged rape, the Clerk’s Office staffer said.
The defendant is still scheduled to appear in court Sept. 25 for arraignment.
Wenatchee School District’s internal investigation is still in the early phases and ongoing, Executive Director of Human Resources Lisa Turner said Wednesday. The freshman football team coach remains on paid administrative leave.
FOOTBALL TEAM SEEKING ‘NORMALCY’
Social Studies teacher and former assistant coach Brandon Harle has been named freshman head coach starting Monday, and Athletic Director Jim Beeson said it’s likely he’ll remain in that role for the rest of the season.
Maui Borden, a guest speaker with Proactive Coaching, was hired by the Wenatchee School District to come in to start getting the team back to “normalcy,” Beeson said this afternoon.
Borden conducted his first session with the football team’s captains and ASB leaders this afternoon, speaking about leadership qualities and team goals for regaining normalcy. A second session included most of the football team and some ASB leaders.
“The incident that took place is never going to go away,” Beeson said. The purpose of the guest speaker was to get the team back on the right track, and hear a new perspective on an important topic, Beeson said.
Wenatchee School District has offered private counseling services to all football players, Beeson said this evening, calling the district “committed” to doing what’s right and beneficial to those affected by the incident.
Last night, the WHS varsity football team beat the Eisenhower Cadets 34-6 in Yakima. Beeson said that was a good step for getting the team back on the right track.
“It’s good to see them getting back to being able to laugh and do things as a group that high school students should be doing,” Beeson said.
UPDATE Sept. 22 6:50 p.m.
The Apple Leaf originally reported that Brandon Redal, the juvenile defendant’s attorney, was a public defender, when in fact he is actually a private attorney, according to John Brangwin, the attorney for the freshman football coach on paid administrative leave. Redal was appointed to the case by the court, due to a conflict in the public defender’s office, and was already representing the juvenile in the assault case from earlier this year, Brangwin said in an email Monday.
UPDATE Sept. 25 1:40 p.m.
The Wenatchee High School freshman charged with three counts of second-degree rape pleaded not guilty on all counts in court this morning. Chelan County Court Commissioner Bart Vandegrift set the defendant’s trial for Oct. 24, with the assumption that it will probably be delayed, due to the ongoing investigation.
The defendant is also being held on one count of third-degree assault, which occurred in January when the student was in middle school, and will be sentenced for that charge on Oct. 14.
Vandegrift reminded the defendant that each count of second-degree rape could entail life in prison or a maximum $50,000 fine. Chelan County Prosecuting Attorney Doug Shae said this afternoon that the student will not be tried as an adult, as of right now, unless the prosecution requests that.
“If it were to come, it would have to be filed soon,” Shae said, noting that this would have to be filed before the trial.
Some of the victims’ parents, the defendant’s parents, and Wenatchee School District Superintendent Brian Flones attended the hearing at the Juvenile Justice Center this morning.
The defendant will appear in court Oct. 14 for sentencing on the assault and a readiness hearing to prepare for the Oct. 24 trial. The trial will likely be heard by a Chelan County Superior Court judge, rather than Vandegrift, because it will likely be a multi-day trial, where evidence from the ongoing investigation will be presented.
Click here to read the story that The Apple Leaf posted after police completed their investigation.
No Apple Bowl graduation for Class of 2015
Story broke here Sept. 17, 2014.
The 2015 graduation ceremony won’t be held at the Apple Bowl — the first time since 2001, when it was moved due to bad weather. Wenatchee School District’s Capital Improvement Bond, approved widely earlier this year, scheduled renovation work on the grandstands of the Apple Bowl to begin before the scheduled graduation date of June 5.
“The Apple Bowl is going to be under construction,” senior class adviser Brandon Harle said today. “If half of the seating in the Apple Bowl is gone, it’s physically impossible to hold an event that size.”
At the Aug. 26 school board meeting, Wenatchee High School Principal Bob Celebrezze and Harle presented the board with an alternative plan for the graduation ceremony.
Instead, school officials suggested that the graduation ceremony be held at the Town Toyota Center. Normally, graduation is held on Friday night. But there’s a problem — Eastmont High School already has the Town Toyota Center reserved on Friday night during graduation week. The solution? WHS will likely hold graduation on Thursday night, June 4.
“There will be graduation … there always has been graduation,” Harle said. “There’s a 100-percent chance of graduation.”
Besides the Town Toyota Center, Harle said there are no other realistic options in the area. If the ceremony was held in the WHS gym, he said each graduate would get about two tickets. Nearly 5,000 people attend graduation each year, Harle said.
“It’s not a decision that was made lightly,” nor arbitrarily, Harle said. He understands that the disadvantage of not having graduation at the Apple Bowl is the tradition factor, but mentioned the advantages of better sound and sight by holding it at the Town Toyota Center.
Celebrezze was unavailable for comment this morning.
Architects on the improvement project expect it to be completed by the fall sports season of 2015.
Stadium construction delays are causing a problem for Big Nine schools currently, Harle said, which is what WHS is trying to avoid in the 2015 season. Zaepfel Stadium in the Yakima School District is under construction, after voters there approved a bond. This has caused Davis and Eisenhower High School’s current fall sports to share Marquette Stadium, which is property of a Yakima private school.
Another WHS graduation tradition? Fireworks. Harle said not to worry — fireworks will be incorporated at the Town Toyota Center.
Look for additional coverage on this story in The Apple Leaf on Sept. 24.
Kuntz steps away from athletic department legacy
Story originally published in The Apple Leaf March 5, 2014.
Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” rattles through the walls of the athletic office on a bittersweet day. The spirits of the employees of the office are high. The telephone is ringing and the athletic director is away for the moment, but in a few months, for good.
Suddenly, “This song fits us,” Assistant Athletic Director LeAnne Branam spouts off. “It’s the end of an era.”
This is Feb. 26, the day that Wenatchee High School Principal Bob Celebrezze named Athletic Director BJ Kuntz to replace Mike Franza as Dean of Students in August.
“We will definitely miss her,” Branam said. “She’s going to be spectacular at whatever she does.”
Kuntz was promoted to the dean position because Franza is retiring at the end of the school year. Kuntz has been the athletic director for the past 12 years, according to an announcement email from Celebrezze.
“I’m super excited to go and tackle some new things,” Kuntz said. While the dean position is still “evolving,” Kuntz is prepared to help the position progress and support the building, students, and staff at WHS, as well as support the principal and be a part of the leadership team.
The promotion for Kuntz will allow her to have more time with her family, which she is looking forward to. “Life as an athletic director is a lot of pressure,” Kuntz said, mentioning the nights and weekends involved with the job and varying opinions from multiple people.
She believes her organization, love for kids, and high standards will bring a nice approach to the dean position.
But currently, Kuntz doesn’t get to work with kids as much. She said it’s all about “going back to grounding yourself and why you got into [education] in the first place.”
Celebrezze offered Kuntz the opportunity after confirming the switch with Wenatchee School District Superintendent Brian Flones. Kuntz was the only person considered for the position, Celebrezze said.
”It was such an easy decision,” Celebrezze said. “She loves kids, she’s been here for years, I know her well, and she’s taught at the high school and Orchard Middle School as well. What really sold me was that she loves Wenatchee High School.”
“She’s always been a strong supporter of the swimming program and it’ll be sad to see her go,” swimming coach Brian Lee said. “She has some big shoes to fill — I feel sorry for anyone who has to take the place of Mike Franza.”
“This was my first year coaching and without her assistance, we never would have had the success we had this season,” girls soccer coach John Springer said. “Although I am excited for her new opportunity, she will really be missed in the athletic department.”
A new athletic director will now be hired, Kuntz confirmed, but doesn’t have the details of what that process will entail.
“We’re blessed to work in this office,” Branam said. She noted the smoothness of how everything works within the department and how the staff gets along with each other. “Hopefully whoever comes next will keep that flow.”
Kuntz didn’t formally request to leave the athletic department, she said. She will begin as Dean of Students in August, but didn’t have a comment on how long she plans to stay in the role, saying she never knows where her life will take her.
Latin princess steps out of her comfort zone and onto the stage
Story originally published in The Apple Leaf June 4, 2014.
She took the stage in a blue evening gown, with lights shining bright and her eyes on the prize. She didn’t think she would make it this far in the competition, but she knew looking out into the audience that somebody, somewhere out there, was completely buying into the message she delivered.
While senior Guadalupe Martinez didn’t win a spot on the Apple Blossom Royal Court, the prize she did receive was even better.
“It was scary at first,” Martinez said. “I remember shaking while I gave my speech. But at the same time it was like a moment of bravery. Once I was up there, I knew this was my time. I can do this. It was the time to prove myself — that I could do something I had wanted to do.”
Martinez moved to America at age 9. She moved from school to school, ending up finally in Wenatchee.
“It was very different. I was very excited. I came with hopes even though I was young. I knew I was going to get more opportunities here (in America), and it was a challenge because I had to learn a whole new different language. It was more that I had to challenge myself because I knew my parents only understood a small amount of English,” Martinez said.
She used to consider herself the “shy and quiet girl,” but early this spring, Martinez took to the stage during the Apple Blossom Pageant, and learned a little bit more about herself during the process. Following the speech, feedback flooded in to Martinez — her speech was a hit.
“It was surprising because I didn’t know I was going to make that big of an impact on people,” Martinez said. “They didn’t even know me and I was thinking that I would not get their attention … I got a lot of feedback. They said they did not know me, but they definitely liked my speech and they hoped that I would win.”
Martinez had to choose one word that described her. She chose determined. “It goes back to the fact that I said I want to be someone different and be different in my family. I want to be a good role model for my brother and sister. I want them to go higher than me,” she said.
She plans to attend Wenatchee Valley College this fall and get the general education classes out of the way, then decide if she will pursue a career in the medical or law field. Martinez is a first generation college student from her family, following behind her two older sisters.
“My family didn’t get the opportunity to go [to college] for what they wanted,” Martinez said. “I know they want me to go for what I want, and I want to make them proud. I want to show them it’s possible.”
After obtaining her degree, Martinez hopes to return to Wenatchee and pursue the career of her dreams. Her family currently works in the orchard industry.
“I want to help [my family] stop working because orchard work isn’t easy,” Martinez said. “It’s tough work. I know that because I’ve been there. I want to help them.”
Martinez doesn’t want others to be afraid of trying new things. “Life may get tough, but it’s better to go for it,” Martinez said. “Life is not easy. Sometimes by going through tough things, you learn bigger and more important lessons than by not going through them at all.”
From high school technician to Bruno Mars team member
Story originally published in The Apple Leaf May 14, 2014; story published in The Wenatchee World May 30, 2014.
Just three months ago, more than 112 million people tuned in to watch Super Bowl XLVIII on television, the highest ever recorded. Nearly 83,000 people packed into MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to watch the Seattle Seahawks whoop the Denver Broncos. Some people piled in, simply to see the halftime performance from chart-topping artist Bruno Mars.
Wenatchee High School 1996 graduate Erik Rodstol was at his home in Orlando. It was his daughter’s birthday the day prior to this history-making Super Bowl.
In the week leading up to this, he was assisting at the rehearsals with Mars, making sure the sound was right on cue for Mars’ unforgettable performance with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Rodstol is currently on tour with Mars as a monitor technician through his company Clair Global, a sound company that caters to the professional touring industry. It was in 1992 when he got his start right inside the walls of WHS — setting levels and writing cues on the soundboard for performances in the auditorium, as part of the WHS Tech Crew.
“[Tech Crew] gave me insight as to possibilities of what I could get into,” Rodstol said. “I could see potential.”
One day, Rodstol realized he could make a good living doing what he did. That’s when he decided, “I’m going to work with some really big bands and tour the world.”
In 1998, Rodstol graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle with an Associates Degree of Applied Arts, majoring in Audio Production.
Since then, Rodstol’s career has taken him all over the country, from Asia, to Australia, to Europe. He has toured with country singer Keith Urban, hip hop singer Enrique Iglesias, and rock band Nickelback. It look him a long time to get where he is.
“You don’t go to that level right away,” Rodstol said, “but when you do, it’s pretty cool.”
Rodstol now lives his life on planes, tour busses, and stages. During legs of the tour, he wakes up on a bus and is handed a day sheet. From there, he gets to work with his crew of four on the current tour from Clair Global.
He helps wire the stage, tunes the PA, sets up and tests the microphones, helps the band with their soundcheck, and by that time, the audience has arrived for the concert.
Rodstol then goes for a nap on the tour bus or dinner, depending on how much sleep he got the night before. The concert begins and Rodstol is back in the arena, sitting next to the monitor engineer backstage.
After the opening act, a 30- to 40-minute set change occurs, Mars then takes the stage, and finally, Rodstol is able to begin the “load out” process of taking down the stage and packing up for the next show.
That is generally done by 1 or 2 a.m. He gets time for a shower, relaxes with his crew members, and finally gets time to sleep.
“It’s not a 9-to-5 job with an hour lunch break,” Rodstol said.
There’s no doubt that Rodstol sees incredible things, like Lenny Kravitz performing with Mars in Paris, or soon Pharrell Williams, singer of hit song “Happy,” opening for Mars. Regardless of who it is, Rodstol tries to “keep it professional,” as does most of the crew.
Rodstol doesn’t try to gloat or act starstruck, even though he casually passes Mars on a regular basis.
“We’re not like buds or anything,” Rodstol said. “Bruno’s just a genuine, down-to-earth, nice guy.”
In the last few years, Rodstol married his wife Rebecca. He has two daughters, 1 and 3 years old. He’s thinking now about doing less overseas touring, citing the time change and consistent stream of travel.
“It’s quite tough and it’s very taxing,” Rodstol said.
Although the travel is consistent, Rodstol has a travel agency, which keeps up with all of his booking. Another agency takes care of all of his work visas and passports for overseas tours. Sometimes, Rodstol knows ahead of time where he’ll be touring next. One time, however, he was called, told to pack his bags, and hop on a flight.
Mars’ current tour has a crew of approximately 50 people, Rodstol said.
“I want people to realize we’re a team, there’s seven of us (in the audio department),” he said. “It takes a lot to put on a production at this level.”
Rodstol realized during his days at WHS where he wanted to end up. Coincidentally, he’s right where he thought he would be. “Set a goal and just go for it,” he said.
Bob Celebrezze: the new face of administration
Photo by Storrie Skalisky / The Apple Leaf
Story originally published in The Apple Leaf Sept. 18, 2013.
A dreary morning early before school and a dark gray coffee cup with a large logo of Washington State University. Many credentials and diplomas hanging on the wall behind his head. Enough silence in between questions to hear the clock ticking. His first week with students at Wenatchee High School was coming to a close. His first impressions had come and gone; his lasting impact still formulating.
A normal school day for Bob Celebrezze, the new principal at Wenatchee High School, puts him at school usually by 6:30 a.m. He likes to make his own coffee when he arrives.
He arrived in early July and found Wenatchee to be pretty hot.
Celebrezze comes from Moscow, Idaho, where he formerly served as principal at the high school and won an award for secondary principal of the year. Now, he’s the principal at WHS and he’s not afraid to let it be known.
“I’m real comfortable here,” said Celebrezze. “I love the support I have here.”
The first day of school, however? “It felt a little uncomfortable,” said Celebrezze. “I think because people didn’t know who I am so they would have a tendency to stare at [me] for a while so after a while, I felt a little awkward at times.”
And day two? “It felt great,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many students have gone out of their way to want to get to know [me] a little bit.”
Throughout his first two months at WHS, Celebrezze has done a lot of looking and even more listening. Due to his awareness, his initial read is that “it’s very positive, it seems inclusive, students seem to want to be here, [and] the faculty and the staff seem anxious to help,” he said.
Celebrezze did his research. According to him, he asked a lot of people what WHS was like before even coming here.
“I researched it very heavily and I didn’t want to make a mistake,” he said.
Before coming to Wenatchee, Celebrezze knew next to nothing about the Wenatchee Valley. In fact, before applying to be principal, he had only visited once in 1986.
For his first year, he wants to continue looking, listening and learning, even though he’s a self-proclaimed “do-er.”
“You can’t come in and just flip something on a dime — that’s the wrong way to do business,” said Celebrezze.
Now that he’s here, he plans to stay for at least 10 years and doesn’t plan on leaving his position as principal.
“I plan to leave, wherever I leave, proud,” he said. “Whenever I leave, anywhere, I want to leave on top of my game.”
He also shares a concern that many WHS students have and can often be heard complaining about. “I wish the classrooms had windows,” Celebrezze said.
Former principal Mike Franza has stayed on as dean of students, and according to Celebrezze, he has realized how lucky he is to still have the support from Franza. Celebrezze thinks they both have the same philosophies but perhaps a different approach.
“He’s been nothing but great to me, and that will continue,” said Celebrezze.
Franza returned in 2011 as interim principal after principal Michelle Wadeikis’ quick exit. Prior to, Franza served as WHS principal for 5 years.
“I think it was really smart of the Wenatchee School District to hire a principal from the outside,” said Celebrezze, “but being the principal from the outside is not overly comfortable; it’s not easy because everybody else knows each other and nobody else knows you, so that’s been awkward.”
But the mistake that he was worried about making when applying? So far, it doesn’t exist. “Wenatchee High School is anything but a mistake,” Celebrezze said, “it’s a gift, so I’m very fortunate.”
National Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Bryce Newberry 