***This article is written by Jacie Hinton, a participant in The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
As soon as she entered the doors of Kewanee High School, Amanda Tidwell felt at home.
Tidwell said she felt an “immediate sense of community” and was in awe of the facilities KHS offered, specifically the agricultural center, the track and field, and the commercial kitchens. She was also impressed by the unique learning opportunities available at KHS such as obtaining a food handling license, using Anatomage machine, enrolling in Vet Tech classes, and completing dual credit classes.
An educator of 19 years, Tidwell is set to step into the position as the new KHS principal, a job that is being vacated by the current principal, Rebecca Baney, who will step into her new role as Kewanee superintendent.
Tidwell grew up in East Dubuque, Ill. along the Mississippi River. She earned all three of her degrees at Western Illinois University in Macomb.
Tidwell started her professional career teaching in special education for grades 3-12. After that, she was a special education facilitator for two years, high school athletic director for two years, and a school administrative manager for five years. Overall, she worked in an elementary setting for six years, a middle school setting for eight years, and a high school setting for five years. The past 10 years have seen her employed with the Davenport School District.
From a young age, she had her sights set on education and leadership.
“I always knew I wanted to be a principal,” she said, “Growing up in a small district allowed me to see that smaller communities are truly families and that is what I want.”
Tidwell said one of her goals for next year is to learn every student’s name by the end of the first quarter.
“I work in a building of 460 kids, but I have been able to do that so far each year,” she said.
Tidwell recognizes that education requires team effort and feels motivated by the students and staff around her.
“I love showing students that there are always opportunities to learn, and even if you think you can’t do something, you should try because usually you will surprise yourself,” she said. “You can usually find me learning something new—whether in my professional or personal life.”
In preparing for her new role, Tidwell sees herself as a resource for maximizing a school’s learning potential. She plans to apply this narrative in the 24-25 school year.
“A good principal makes sure that staff have what they need to help children learn and students have everything they need to learn to the best of their abilities,” she said.
Though being a principal can be hectic, Tidwell plans to be present around the school no matter what. For Tidwell, the thrill of her new job is being on campus and getting to know students better.
“I am very interested in speaking to students about their experiences at KHS and learning how we can continue to improve educational experiences for all students,” Tidwell said.
She plans to not only lead her own little community that is KHS, but to be a part of the Kewanee community.
“I also plan to attend community events and build relationships with families and community members. I believe listening and asking questions is a great opportunity to build trust, respect and also learn a lot about the school community. I want everyone to know that I am always available to listen and will always try to help however I can,” Tidwell said.
While Tidwell is not originally from Boiler Country, she plans to become a part of the community over time by bonding, learning, and taking in all the wonderful opportunities Kewanee has to offer.
When she’s not at school, Tidwell spends her time with her husband Brandon, children Lili and Carter, and dogs Poppy and Winston.
