New Early Learning Center Principal Kylie Baker, a West Branch native and alum, will be a familiar face to many in the community and is looking forward to meeting and working with the district’s students and their parents beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

BELOIT — The West Branch Board of Education hired a new district principal in a brief special meeting Wednesday.

“I’m honored to be here at West Branch again, it’s a privilege to come back home and serve the community and our kids,” said new Early Learning Center Principal Kylie Baker.

The board of education voted unanimously to approve a two-year contract for Baker to serve as the Early Learning Center principal beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, with an annual salary of $80,000.

“She’s returning home to us, and we’re very happy to have her back,” said Superintendent Micki Egli.

Baker will be a familiar face to many in the community. A West Branch district native and 2000 graduate, Baker has been teaching for 20 years, spending the first five years of her career teaching in Atlanta, followed by three years with the West Branch School District as a Title One teacher, and the last 12 as an elementary teacher for the Salem City School District, spending time at each of the district’s elementary schools.

Baker earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Baldwin Wallace University in 2004, and her master’s degree in reading and literacy from Walden University in 2008. She earned her administrative degree from Youngstown State University in 2024.

While this will be her first administrative position, Baker said that during her 20-year career she has worked in nearly every grade level from kindergarten through fifth and that she is happy to be returning home to her native community.

“This is my home, I live in the community. I’ve always loved being a part of our traditions at West Branch and when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped on it,” said Baker.

Baker said that she loves West Branch’s “Warrior Pride” and academic excellence, and wants to see it continue by bringing the experience accrued during her teaching career to the district.

“I would like to continue the excellence that’s already been established here at West Branch and hopefully add some experience and fun. I’m just looking to add value to the district and bring my own experience, curriculum and ideas to help our students excel, and I’m really looking forward to working with the students and their parents this year. I love my Quaker family and will miss them, but I’m happy to be back at West Branch,” said Baker.

The board also voted unanimously to hire Kelsey McFarland as pre-school intervention specialist for the 2024-2025 school year.

The board of education will meet next at 6 p.m. July 18.