Ephrata announces selection of new Columbia Ridge principal

EPHRATA — A Wyoming educator with ties to the Columbia Basin has been selected as the next principal at Columbia Ridge Elementary.

Christopher Jensen of Lovell, Wyoming will succeed current principal Karla Williams, who announced in March that she wanted to return to the classroom and will be teaching fourth-grade at Grant Elementary in the coming school year.

Jensen most recently served as principal of Lovell Elementary School in the Big Horn County School District and has more than two decades of education experience as a principal, assistant principal, instructional coach, and teacher, according to a press statement Wednesday from the Ephrata School District.

He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Chadron State College in Nebraska, a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Wyoming and an associate degree from Ricks College in Idaho.

Jensen was one of 17 applicants and among three interviewed for the Columbia Ridge position. He will formally begin his new duties July 1. 

In announcing his hiring, Ephrata schools superintendent Ken Murray said Jensen will bring “a thoughtful and steady leadership style, a strong instructional background and a deep commitment to building collaborative cultures where doing what’s best for kids is prioritized.”

“Christopher has a genuine passion for serving students, supporting staff and partnering with families,” Murray continued. “I’m excited to welcome him and his family to Ephrata and look forward to the positive impact he will have at Columbia Ridge.”

In the district statement, Jensen said he has spent much of his life in the Columbia Basin and was excited to become part of the Ephrata community.

“This region has always felt like home to me. I’m impressed by the pride people have in Ephrata schools and the strong connection between the schools and the community,” he said. “During my visit to Columbia Ridge, it was clear that every staff member shares a deep commitment to students and works together as a team to create a positive learning environment.”

“I’m honored to join a school with such a strong foundation and look forward to building relationships with students, staff and families,” he said.

Columbia Ridge Elementary has a population of about 462 fulltime-equivalent students in grades K-4 served by 32 certificated staff and 22 classified staff including paraeducators and secretaries.