The three women who rolled out the “Let’s Back Northlake” initiative last year aren’t sure what it means, “but we are excited,” says Andrea Hauglie, one of the founders. Carol Toler announced earlier this week that Skyview Elmentary assistant principal Mary Kellagher is moving to Northlake Elementary as its new principal.

Kellagher replaces Glenda Howell, who has been principal since 2005. Howell implemented academic improvements that moved Northlake from an “acceptable” rating to either “recognized” or “exemplary” for the past six years.

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The Let’s Back Northlake group has a meeting tentatively planned with Kellagher the first week in July and will do a community meet and greet shortly after, Hauglie says. Along with Amy Timmerman and Erin Harrison, Hauglie has spent the past year trying to convince other homeowners who live in Northlake’s boundaries to send their children to the neighborhood school rather than transfer somewhere else.

“The new principal stated that she is interested in re-engaging the homeowners,” Hauglie says. “It can only be positive for the neighborhood.”