Wednesday, August 1, 2001

New principals not strangers to Fayette's schools

As students return to class Aug. 10, they may notice a few changes at their schools such as new carpet, fresh paint and additional classrooms, or, in some cases, a new principal.

Three of Fayette's schools will have new principals this year. Although new to the role of principal, these administrators are familiar with the Fayette County School System and the community it serves. In fact, all three of them have served as assistant principals for a number of years within the school system.

Dianne Teer is the new principal of Hood Avenue Primary School (formerly Fayetteville Primary). Her position was created when the Board of Education voted to make Fayetteville Primary and Fayetteville Intermediate two separate schools based on a recommendation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Teer had been serving as assistant principal for the former Fayetteville Primary since 1990 with Kathy Corley as the principal of both schools. Now that the two schools are separated, Corley will remain the principal of Fayetteville Intermediate as Teer assumes her position as principal at Hood Avenue.

Teer says she is excited about having the opportunity to help prepare young students for a solid education foundation.

"Grades K-2 are very important years in a child's education. I am looking forward to helping students get off to a good start," Teer said.

Teer has worked for the school system since 1970 when she was hired as an English teacher at the former Fayette County Junior High School. She also taught at Booth Middle School before becoming the assistant principal at the former Fayetteville Primary School.

Although running a school is a tremendous undertaking, Teer says she is fortunate to serve as principal at a school where she has worked for the past 11 years.

"I know both the faculty and the parents. This is a wonderful place to work because of the support they give to the school," Teer said.

Sue Cleek is Brooks Elementary School's newest principal. Cleek replaces Harry Sweatman, who is now the school system's coordinator of safety. Prior to being named principal of Brooks, Cleek was an assistant principal at Huddleston Elementary for five years. Before moving to Huddleston, she had been an assistant principal at Tyrone Elementary for nine years. Both Cleek and her husband, George, joined the school system in 1979 as teachers at Booth Middle and Fayette County High, respectively. Her husband still teaches math at FCHS.

A long time resident of the Brooks area, Cleek says she is thrilled to have the opportunity to work in the community where she lives.

"I have strong ties to this community and to Brooks Elementary. My kids went to Brooks and are a product of the Fayette County School System. Brooks is such a nice, small, community school. It's just a wonderful place to be," said Cleek.

Roy Rabold, who has been named principal of Sandy Creek High School, has worked in the Fayette County School System 14 years. He replaces Charles Warr, who was transferred to Fayette County High School to replace Gary Philips, who retired at the end of the 2000-2001 academic year.

Rabold joined the Fayette County School System in 1987 as assistant principal of McIntosh High School. He stayed at McIntosh for six years before accepting an assistant principal position at Sandy Creek.

Rabold says he is excited about starting his first year as principal and has received many words of support from parents and students.

"When the students left school for the summer they had no idea who their next principal was going to be. I think students, faculty and parents feel more at ease knowing that they are going to be working with someone they already know," said Rabold.

Since Rabold has been working at Sandy Creek for almost nine years, he said he expects the transition to be a smooth one because of the relationships he has already developed with students, parents and faculty members. His vision for the school is to provide a safe atmosphere where everyone can maximize their potential for success, he said.

Parents and students will have an opportunity to meet their new principals before the new academic year at each school's orientation day. Both Hood Avenue and Brooks elementary schools will have orientation Aug. 8 from 3-6 p.m. Sandy Creek's orientation will be Aug. 7 from 4-6 p.m.