Highline Celebrates National Principals Month
October is National Principals Month and we’re celebrating the leaders who guide our schools. Our principals create welcoming spaces, lead with care and put into action our Highline Promise to know every student by name, strength and need.
This month, we highlight a handful of Highline principals making an impact across our schools.
Thank you to all our school leaders for the work you do, the joy you bring, and the futures you help shape.
Fred Butts, Big Picture Schools
At Big Picture Schools, Principal Fred Butts helps students build confidence, take ownership of their learning, and see new possibilities for their future.
He became a principal to give students what he didn’t always get—belonging, safety and opportunity. Whether he's fixing a bike tire or helping a student reset after a tough day, he leads with presence and care.
Big Picture is built on student ownership. Students design learning plans, take on real-world projects, and work with mentors in the community. They’re seen for who they are, and supported to grow.
“The joy is watching students become the architects of their own learning,” says Fred.
He creates a space where students feel capable and confident. Where they can walk into a room and say, “I got this.”
Fred lives the Highline Promise every day—knowing students by name, strength and need. For him, it's not just a motto. It’s a mindset.
Anecia Grigsby, Cedarhurst Elementary School
Principal Anecia Grigsby is new to Highline, but not new to leading schools. With 11 years of experience as a principal and assistant principal in a neighboring school district, she brings a calm, collaborative energy to Cedarhurst Elementary.
She started as a special education teacher and became a principal to make a bigger impact on every student. “I wanted to support more students,” she said. “As a teacher, I worked with a small group. As a principal, I get to help shape the experience for everyone.”
At Cedarhurst, she’s focused on building trust and strengthening systems. That starts with listening. In her first weeks, she’s been meeting one-on-one with staff, surveying their needs, and identifying what’s working well in the building. One of her first goals: improve attendance systems and bring consistency that supports both students and staff.
It’s not all structure, school culture matters just as much and she’s clear about the kind she wants to build.
“School should be fun,” she said. “For kids and adults. We work hard every day—and we need to find ways to laugh and celebrate the work we’re doing together.”
That belief shows up in how she supports students and families. Recently, after a student needed extra care, she and her school counselor made a home visit to check in. It was late in the day, but the connection mattered. “We didn’t want to wait. We needed to understand how to support the student and the family right away,” she said.
At the center of her work is the Highline Promise. Her daily reminder that every student deserves to be known by name, strength and need.
“It’s not about telling kids what they should become. It’s about helping them see their own strengths, explore their skills, and know they have options.”
Welcome to Highline, Principal Grigsby. We’re glad you’re here.
Corbin Busby, Hilltop Elementary School
Principal Busby believes that schools thrive when relationships thrive. At Hilltop, he works every day to support a culture where students, staff and families feel seen, supported, and connected. From greeting students by name to listening to staff during moments of stress, his leadership is grounded in care.
Corbin takes pride in helping lead Hilltop’s journey toward inclusion, especially as the district’s first dual language school to take on that work. “Any difference I’ve made as a school leader has been in partnership with others,” he says. “There is power in guaranteeing all students have access to a dual language experience.”
He became a principal to create a school where every student belongs and learning matters. At Hilltop, he’s building a community rooted in real relationships and shared joy.
“I enjoy being able to see children grow year over year, and develop their understanding of who they are as individuals and the unique power each of them have.”
Corbin's leadership reflects the Highline Promise in action—knowing every student by name, strength and need, and helping them build toward the future they choose.
Vanessa Banner, Pacific Middle School
At Pacific Middle School, Principal Vanessa Banner is leading with purpose, vision, and a clear belief in student growth. Her focus is building a strong foundation with shared beliefs across the school community.
From the start, she’s worked with staff to create a common understanding: all students can learn, high expectations matter, and relationships are everything.
Vanessa became a principal to widen her impact. As a student, she moved often and experienced learning gaps firsthand. It was her teachers, and later a school leader, who helped her see what was possible.
Her favorite part of being a principal is being with students. Even with the demands of leading a building, she finds time to step into classrooms, connect with students during lunch, and be part of the day-to-day joy of school life.
“I love my job because of the people—our staff and our students,” she said. “They’re the reason I show up every day.”
Vanessa and her staff also co-created the Pilot Way at Pacific, which are student-led values that reflect respect, compassion, curiosity, and a growth mindset. “We celebrate growth,” she says. “We meet students where they are and help them move forward.”
Vanessa is working to build a school where people want to be—where students feel like they belong and where staff are united in support of learning.
This month, our principals shared with us what leadership looks like in action. They build trust, lift up staff, support families, and help students grow into who they’re meant to be. Every day, they bring the Highline Promise to life. Thank you to all our principals for the work you do and the impact you make every day.