New Leadership at Two Crane Schools
Yuma, AZ – Two Crane schools will be welcoming new leadership this 2024-25 school year. Laura Hurt and Lauren Daniels have been named Principals at Centennial Middle School and Gary A. Knox Elementary School, respectively. Both administrators have been with the Crane district for over 20 years in other roles.
Laura Hurt, who is entering her 40th year in education, is returning to Centennial Middle School where she was once an Assistant Principal. “I am excited to be given the opportunity to work at Centennial. I'm going to miss my Knox family immensely, but I feel, in a sense, that Centennial is home and each day that I walk in the building, I feel this is where I'm supposed to be.”
Mrs. Hurt leaves her previous Principal position at Gary A. Knox Elementary School and is looking forward to returning to secondary education, where she first began her education career. “I love secondary education (grades 6-12). My hope is to build community at Centennial with the staff, parents, and kids. The staff is first-rate so working alongside them will be a treat. Much of my effort this year will be ensuring that our students receive the highest quality of teaching as we prepare them for high school. Our kids deserve that.”
Taking over for Mrs. Hurt at Gary A. Knox Elementary School is Lauren Daniels. This school year will be her first as a Principal; she was previously an Assistant Principal at Salida del Sol Elementary. This will also be a homecoming of sorts for Mrs. Daniels, who was hired as a Kindergarten teacher at Knox in 2008. Mrs. Daniels began her career as an instructional aide twenty years ago and she has gotten to know the school system by serving in a variety of roles that includes elementary and middle school teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal.
“My favorite part of being an educator is making connections with students, hoping to make a positive impact on each one of them and watching them learn and grow into members of our community. I love watching a student overcome struggles and gain confidence in themselves whether that is socially or academically. Then when I run into them in town when they are grown students or adults, I love to hear where life has taken them and am so proud of who they have become. I love being a part of their journey.”
Mrs. Daniels is looking forward to making an impact at her new school with her new team. “I am excited to lead and be a part of an already amazing school. The pride that the staff, students, parents and community have in Knox is overwhelming. They absolutely love their school and I’m excited to connect with our school community and empower our staff and students to continue to be amazing.”
Crane Superintendent Laurie Doering is proud of the contributions both Mrs. Hurt and Mrs. Daniels have made within the Crane learning community. “These leaders are the definition of excellence in education. They have the necessary tools, experience, and commitment to positively impact a school community, but it’s more than that. They both have a gift for building up, encouraging, and empowering their teachers and staff to new heights with the overall goal – our most essential task and responsibility as educators – to help all children grow, thrive, and succeed. The students and families of Centennial Middle School and Gary A. Knox Elementary School are in the best hands. It’s going to be a fantastic school year.”
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