Schools Wrapping Up Fall Hiring

By Joy Campbell, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.

Jul. 1–For the first time in several years, Muhlenberg County Public Schools will have no changes in its administrative staff when the district starts a new school year.

That means that students and families will see the same principals and assistant principals and the same certified staff in the board of education’s central office.

“We’re looking for consistency and longevity in those areas, so that is a good thing for us,” Superintendent Dale Todd said.

The district also had fewer teaching positions to fill this year, with more vacancies at the middle school level, he said.

The message was mixed from other districts in the region, with some reporting minor changes and others having to conduct a lot of recruiting before August.

Muhlenberg County recruited about 25 teachers this year compared to about 30 last year. New faces in that district will include a director of the Kentucky Junior Coal Academy, a vocational program that will train students to be coal miners when they graduate.

John McRoy of Bremen will head that new two-year, vocational certification program developed in collaboration with the Muhlenberg Area Technology Center and Madisonville Community and Technical College.

McRoy brings credentials from the vocational occupation route, having worked in the mining industry, Todd said. He does not have teacher certification.

The district also received a grant to hire two technology teachers who will travel to schools to support teachers in the use of new technology.

“We’ve spent over a million dollars on technology upgrades for Smartboards, projectors and software, and we want to help our teachers to ensure they’re using it,” Todd said.

Teachers have until 30 days before school starts to give notice they plan to leave. After that time, it’s up to superintendents to allow them to break their contracts.

Daviess County Public Schools has almost completed its administrative replacement lineup for next year after two principals retired and a husband-wife set of administrators moved to Fayette County.

“On the administrator side, we’re in good shape now,” said Tom Shelton, Daviess County Public Schools superintendent.

Some vacancies were filled from within, which created more shuffling.

After the dust settled, here are the new assignments for the region’s largest district:

— Cindy Galloway Barlow, Deer Park Elementary School principal, replacing Monica Connelly, who retired.

— Robin Winnecke, Audubon Elementary School principal, replacing Diane Embry, who retired.

— Ann Marie Williams, East View Elementary School principal, replacing Julie Hawkins, who moved to Fayette County.

— Mark Owens, personnel director, replacing Scott Hawkins, who moved to Fayette County.

Shelton would like to appoint an interim principal for Burns Middle School — where Owens had served — to allow more time to conduct a search for the right person. He said last week he will work with the school council.

Williams was an assistant principal at Burns Elementary School, and Principal Amy Shutt will hire her replacement.

The district averages about 30 teaching vacancies per year, and this year’s number is below that, Shelton said. The search is still on for a physics teacher and a couple teachers for special education.

Owensboro has no new changes in its administrative staff for the fall. Earlier this year, Estes Elementary School Assistant Principal Lisa McCarty moved to the central office as director of food service, replacing Tammy Fulkerson, who retired.

Superintendent Larry Vick said the district had fewer teacher vacancies this year than the usual 30 and has hired 10 already with about eight yet to recruit.

Students in Owensboro Catholic Schools will see a few changes in administrators, and it’s the first time in a few years that new teachers will be hired, Director Ken Rasp said.

Janice Clark is now the academic dean at Owensboro Catholic Middle School replacing Sister Susan Mudd who retired.

Two new teachers each will be coming on board at the K-3, 4-6 and middle school campuses, and the high school will have one new teacher, who also will serve as assistant women’s soccer coach.

“We’re excited about the new faces and the new energy they will bring to our classrooms,” Rasp said.

Ohio piloting elementary counselors

Ohio County High School has had more turnover this year than usual from retirements and resignations, Superintendent Soretta Ralph said.

With 17 openings, it has not been a typical recruiting year at the high school, she said. Nearly all the positions have been filled, and a few may be hired with emergency or alternate route certifications.

The district experienced a domino effect with administrative changes.

Seth Southard’s move to the central office as the new assistant superintendent for secondary curriculum left a vacancy at Fordsville Elementary School, where he was principal. Jackie McClure is filling that principal spot.

Ohio County Middle School’s assistant principal, Sandra Young, is taking on a new challenge as principal, replacing Rebecca Stovall, who resigned. Moving into the assistant’s role is Brian Barnett.

Ohio County also will have two new guidance counselors at the high school with Kim Kennedy and Jennifer Phelps already hired.

The district also is piloting an elementary-school guidance counselor program with two hired for the buildings with the largest enrollment. Chasity Gregory is the counselor for Wayland Alexander, and Toni Addington is going to Beaver Dam.

McLean County is having a typical year for teacher vacancies, and several of those who are leaving gave earlier notice, Personnel Director Deborah DeArmond said.

The district will have 12 new teachers joining the staff and only two administrative changes. An assistant-principal vacancy at McLean County High School was created when Ashley Troutman moved up to principal.

Hancock County Public Schools has hired only one new administrator. Anna Powell replaces Sheila Wilson, who retired, as the special-education director.

The district has three more vacancies to fill before fall — special-education and Spanish I teachers at the middle school and Title 1 teacher at the elementary level, said Ann Evans, assistant superintendent or instruction.

The district already has hired a high school social studies teacher and four teachers at the middle school in science, English (2) and math. One Title I elementary school teacher has been hired for North Elementary School.

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