Tulsa World: TPS sets forums to select principals

MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Tuesday, February 09, 2010 | WIRELESS

Home > News > Article

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

TPS sets forums to select principals
Positions are open at Webster, East Central and McLain high schools.

By ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer
Published: 6/13/2009 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 6/13/2009 3:38 AM

Two more Tulsa high schools will get new principals when school begins this fall.

Webster's Phil Garland asked to help establish one of the new alternative education programs in Tulsa Public Schools, while longtime East Central Principal Tom O'Malley is leaving to work in the district's administration.

The district previously announced the resignation of Jerome Williams from McLain High School for Science and Technology.

"Forums will be held in these communities because I want input about the kinds of new leaders these schools need, and I want to do an exhaustive screening process for all internal and external candidates," said Superintendent Keith Ballard.

Rogers High School will have Assistant Principal Lyda Wilbur as its new principal, replacing Kevin Burr, who became executive director of high school reform at TPS in the middle of the 2008-09 school year.

Garland, who was at Webster for five years, is to be lead principal at the Continuation School, a new program for adjudicated youth.

He said the opportunity was one he couldn't pass up because he worked previously as a probation and parole officer and warden's assistant at a women's prison, and both his master's thesis and doctoral dissertation are on the subject of alternative schools.

The Tulsa district's recent push to overhaul and enhance alternative education "will help all of the schools to help get the right fit for all kids. It's an exciting time," Garland said.

O'Malley was principal at East Central for 15 years. His new role in the TPS administration isn't set in stone yet, but he hopes to mentor new principals.

"My expertise is not so much in what we did, it's the successes and the failures. I think I have some insight to possibly help principals avoid the pitfalls I had," O'Malley said. "TPS is fortunate to have some great, great principals. I'm going to hate leaving them as a fellow principal, but I'm going to love helping with maybe the development of younger principals."

Tulsa schools forums

Topic: Who should become principal at McLain High School for Science and Technology, Gilcrease Middle School and Houston elementary School? (Dates for forums on Webster and east Central high schools will be announced at a later date.)

Who: TPS would like to hear from parents, faith-based partners, businesses and school employees.

When: 11 a.m. to noon and 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Where: Gilcrease Middle School, 5550 N. Cincinnati ave.

Contact: For more information, call Jane Malone at 7 6-6301.

Andrea Eger 581-8470
andrea.eger@tulsaworld.com By ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Reader Comments

Show: Most Recent Comment First

Add your comment

7 comments have been made on this story so far. Tell us what you think below!

Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you. -- Web Editor Jason Collington

	Report Comment okpaul, Tulsa County (6/13/2009 10:25:04 AM) What a great idea! Get feedback from parents and the community. I wish Bixby would follow this lead, they need a fresh, responsive high school principal!
	Report Comment Norm, (6/13/2009 1:57:57 PM) Nothing against Mr O'Malley - but am I the only one who sees something wrong with the "mentor" of young principals coming from a state-identified "Drop-out factory"?
	Report Comment Whocanutrust?, (6/13/2009 8:58:58 PM) Great just what TPS need... more administrators. East Central is out of control. They need real leadership and teachers that want to teach. Responsible Parent have you visited the north Tulsa schools... I am not talking about BTW and Carver(The only schools that TPS seem to care about)Gilcrease had a out of touch Principal too! These schools do not have Principals and teachers like we did when we attended. The teachers had pride and enjoyed their occupations and believed in the students and so did the principal.
	Report Comment CherokeeOK, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (6/13/2009 9:50:16 PM) Everyone needs school principals like Elliot Elementary and Peary Elementary. Peary principal is a hands on person and she cares about the students and her teachers and employees. Elliot has a classy school and it is noted. These good schools have PTAs that are outstanding. I know this article has nothing to do with elementary schools but we need to boast when we have such wonderful schools as these two.
	Report Comment TK1, (6/13/2009 10:19:55 PM) Whocanutrust? "These schools do not have Principals and teachers like we did when we attended." And the principals and teachers don't have a student body and parent support at the same level from when you attended. It's a much tougher job and there are a number of good people standing in the gap, we just need more with the calling.
	Report Comment Ron Ballew, Lawton (6/14/2009 5:53:58 AM) School Principles should be elected by the teachers, not be a forum of disgruntled parents.
	Report Comment thinker, (6/16/2009 10:16:11 PM) Give the principal in Bixby time. He has only been there about 3 years. He is a good man who loves and cares deeply about his students.

Add Your Comment
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.