​When students returned to school in Beaverton last week, they were greeted by some familiar faces in different places.

Three of those familiar faces are now in charge of Beaverton Elementary and Beaverton Jr./Sr. High School. Former BES Principal Renee Inscho now holds the same position at BJSHS; taking her position at BES is Shawna Hartwell; and stepping in as assistant principal at BJSHS is longtime instructor Kristen Sanderson.

“We’re very excited to see these three committed educators assume their new roles at Beaverton,” said Superintendent Joe Passalacqua. “They’re all well-liked and well-respected by students and colleagues, which speaks well of their acumen as professionals and as people.”

Inscho succeeds Mike Bassage, who left Beaverton to work for a school district in the Upper Peninsula. Inscho has worked in Beaverton since she began as a teacher in 2007, teaching special education and physical education. She earned her degree in secondary education from Saginaw Valley State University in 2004, her special education endorsement from SVSU in 2010 and her administrative certificate in 2020.

Hartwell, taking over for Inscho as BES principal, came to Beaverton as BES assistant principal in 2021 following a decade of elementary teaching in Houghton Lake and Shepherd. Like Inscho, she’s also served as the district’s Special Education Coordinator, a role she will retain. She earned her bachelor’s in elementary education at SVSU and her master’s in educational leadership at Marygrove University.

Sanderson, who replaces Jennifer Johnston as BJSHS assistant principal, has taught Spanish, among other subjects, in Beaverton since 1999. She attained her bachelor’s degree in education from Central Michigan University and her master’s in teaching from SVSU. She has also served as an adjunct Spanish professor at Mid Michigan College. 

Passalacqua said the district will post the position of BES assistant principal soon and expressed appreciation for those who’ve moved on and gratitude that Beaverton has such a deep bench.

“As is the case in every profession, people decide to try new things in their lives and their careers,” Passalacqua said. “I’d never say it’s easy to replace great people, but we’re extremely fortunate that we not only plan for such eventualities, but that we have excellent people in place to step up. These three administrators are going to do great things for students, and we can’t wait to see where they lead us.”