...here we go again

With only days left at her interim post, our temporary superintendent has made a decision to facilitate a massive reorganization. The timing seems suspicious since our newly chosen superintendent starts on July 1st...

Specific to our high school, our principal, Dr. James Hamilton has been at this position for 19 years. To include him in this upheaval seems cruel and uncalled for in light of the probability that this coming year would, perhaps, by his own choice and schedule be his last before retirement.

But in a temporary tenure marked by her preference toward the appearance of "status quo" and following press reports that her resigning predecessor was the master of too much change, too fast, Dr. Mann has announced this change, effective in only 3 more days...



http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2006/06_08-26/TOP

Mann shakes up leadership at county's high schools

RYAN BAGWELL, Staff Writer

June 8,2006

Interim county schools Superintendent Nancy M. Mann transferred scores of principals yesterday in one of the largest personnel shake-ups the system has seen in years. Sixty administrators were either transferred or promoted by the school board and Mrs. Mann, including half the principals of the county's 12 high schools.

Robert Ferguson, president of the union that represents county principals, said the moves seem like good matches.

"Change just to make change isn't good, but change to make an improvement is," said Mr. Ferguson, a Chesapeake High School assistant principal who will move to Old Mill High.

Mrs. Mann's directive swapped Severna Park Principal William Myers with South River's James Hamilton, two longtime administrators who are highly regarded in the school system.

School board President Konrad M. Wayson said Mr. Myers' transfer gave some board members "heartburn." But school officials said it was an amicable move.

"I'm sorry to see him go in Severna Park, but I'm sure the folks at South River will be happy to see him," school board member Michael Leahy said.

In another swap, Northeast High Principal George Kispert will lead Old Mill High next year, and Kathy Kubic,Old Mill's Principal, will head to Northeast.

Mrs. Mann said Old Mill's growing diversity and recent problems - including a gun brought to the school in April - prompted her to swap Mr. Kispert's longtime experience for Ms. Kubic's two years at Old Mill.

"I would say I have grown quite fond of the Old Mill High School community," Ms. Kubic said. "We were moving in the right direction, but I look forward to Northeast High."

North County High Principal Patricia Plitt will take over for Chesapeake High Principal Harry Calender, who is retiring. And Frank Drazan, an assistant principal at Broadneck High, will replace Ms. Plitt as principal of the struggling school in Glen Burnie.

"There are a lot of challenges, but there are a lot of real positives, and that's what I'm hoping to do, is to bring people to work toward those challenges," he said.

Mr. Drazan is a 30-year veteran educator who has been at Broadneck for the past five years. He said yesterday he'll try to raise parent involvement when he starts at the school next week.

Ms. Plitt, who taught for years at Chesapeake High and sent her own kids to the school, had wanted to return there for some time, Mrs. Mann said.

"We make these changes yearly," said Mrs. Mann. "It's nothing new."

Lisa Leitholf, Annapolis Elementary's principal, will lead Folger McKinsey Elementary in Severna Park. The school was named a national Blue Ribbon School of excellence last year.

Alison Lee will leave Folger McKinsey to head Broadneck Elementary. And Susan Myers, an assistant principal at Brooklyn Park's Park Elementary will take the reigns of Annapolis Elementary.

All of the administrative personnel appointments will officially take effect June 15, the day after the last day for teachers.

Mrs. Mann will step down at the end of this month to make way for incoming superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell, a community superintendent with Montgomery County schools. He'll start a four-year contract July 1.

The transfers end a relatively stable time for principals in Anne Arundel schools that administrators enjoyed under former superintendent Eric J. Smith's tenure.

Under Dr. Smith, 43 principals were shuffled around at this time last year, 16 were handed new jobs in 2004 and 29 were moved around in 2003.

School board members were cautiously supportive of yesterday's moves.

"I'm relying on her to know what's best for the system," school board President Konrad M. Wayson said. "Where she sees deficiencies in some areas, she's moving strong candidates in there."