Friday, March 28, 2003
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Friday, March 28, 2003 |
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Five new principals named The Coweta County Board of Education approved five principals during a March 18 board session, called to make the appointments following school council reviews earlier in the day. School system administrators met Tuesday with the councils at Smokey Road Middle School, Western Elementary School, Northside Elementary School, Elm Street Elementary School, and Atkinson Elementary School to discuss candidates for the principal positions and to solicit a candidate recommendation to the superintendent and board from the councils. The appointments made Tuesday include: P. Ann Mitchell, assistant principal at Canongate Elementary School, will become principal at Smokey Road Middle. Derek Pitts, assistant principal at East Coweta High School, will become principal at Elm Street Elementary School. Dr. Thomas McCormack, superintendent (retired) of Ft. Payne (Ala.) City Schools will become principal at Northside Elementary School. Vince Bass, principal of Madras Middle School, will become principal at Atkinson Elementary School. Dr. Michael Cutchens, Director of Operations for Seminole County Schools, will become principal of Western Elementary School. Elnora Battle, assistant principal of Elm Street Elementary School, will become Assistant Principal at O.P. Evans Middle School. Nancy Cook, assistant principal at Smokey Road Middle School, will become assistant principal at Newnan High School. Julie Raschen, second-grade teacher at White Oak Elementary School, will become assistant principal at Elm Street Elementary School. Sean Dye, who is a science teacher and department chair at Westlake High School in Atlanta City Schools, will become assistant principal at Smokey Road Middle School. Lesley Goodwin, assistant principal at O.P. Evans Middle School, will become assistant principal at Madras Middle School. All appointments become effective July 1 for the 2003-04 school year. The appointments leave only two leadership positions unfilled in the school system, including the Director of High School Program at the Central Educational Center, and the Madras principal position left open by the appointment of Bass to Atkinson. The councils' recommendations and the board's approval last week sets the school system's leadership teams for the coming school year, said Dr. Peggy Connell. "We had to make a large number of decisions due to different circumstances, including retirements and matching principals and assistant principals by strengths, but we believe that these appointments will complete this process," said Dr. Connell. "I think these have been some very good decisions for our schools and for everyone involved," said board member Allan Payton. "In public schools, like in a business, you have to maximize the strengths of your employees and match your employees' skills with where they are most needed. Dr. Connell had a daunting task ahead of her to fill every position needed due to retirements and other factors, but I think these decisions are going to serve our students and our schools well." Board Chairman Rick Melville agreed. "I have firmly endorsed the hard work and the recommendations set forth by the Superintendent," he said. "She has taken this duty very seriously and has worked carefully to match schools and school leaders in ways that will benefit both. So the board members and I are firmly behind what Dr. Connell is doing for us." "I don't think we're going to see changes like this from now on," Melville said. "But we have had a number of retirements, and we have filled these positions largely from within the school system, and that has caused more openings. Dr. Connell, too, has thoroughly evaluated our school system over the last year, and she has put together the best team to lead our schools. I think this sets us very well." Melville said he has spoken with many parents and teachers over the last week, "and I've been pleased to see that - after an appointment is made and everyone knows what the decision is - our principals and teachers have been very positive and very supportive of these decisions. I have seen a real sense of dedication and teamwork in our school system," he said. Dr. Connell also thanked the school councils for their work and patience, as they met Thursday to make recommendations on the principal candidates. "This has been a new experience for all of us, and I appreciate council members' efforts," said Connell. "We are charting new waters here with the Councils, and we have tried to balance our obligations to our Councils with our obligations to our candidates and the personnel process. We're trying to make sure we do the right thing in both instances."
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