School board votes on principal hires Thurs.
by Lindsay Field
lfield@mdjonline.com
July 24, 2012 01:39 AM | 4736 views | 16 16 comments | 8 8 recommendations | email to a friend | print
POWDER SPRINGS — The Cobb school board will vote on hiring four principals at a special called meeting Thursday morning.

The school board will meet at 8 a.m. in Hillgrove High School’s media center to consider new principal hires at Lost Mountain Middle School, Lindley 6th Grade Academy, and Belmont Hills and Chalker elementary schools. The meeting is being presented at Hillgrove because that is where the 2012 Leadership Kickoff meeting is for district administrators.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa has said he won’t release names or details about the principal candidates he is recommending before the board votes so as to not embarrass the candidates if the board rejects them.

“There are a lot of good internal candidates that are still coming through,” Hinojosa said Monday.

He will be interviewing candidates for the Lindley and Lost Mountain positions Wednesday.

The openings are four of 24 principal vacancies the board is filling for this school year.

The only area where Hinojosa’s struggled to find qualified principal replacements is at the high school level.

“They just don’t have as much experience,” Hinojosa said. “Finding a high school principal is one of the toughest jobs. A lot of the people just aren’t ready for that.”

Sprayberry has the district’s only high school vacancy, which was created last week when the school board moved its principal, Ed Wagner, to Kell.

Lost Mountain Middle Principal Dr. Robert Downs was promoted to principal at Pope High. Lindley 6th Grade Academy Principal Landon Brown is being reassigned, but the district has not said where. Belmont Hills Principal Terry Floyd was named the district’s new director of intervention and support, curriculum, instruction and assessment. Chalker Elementary Principal JoAnn Sappington retired.
Share This Article |
similar stories

Cobb School’s $856 million budget includes some cuts and time off | 7 days ago by Lindsay Field

Around Town: Hankerson staying: But the question is, for how long? | 6 days ago by Lee B. Garrett, Joe Kirby and Otis Brumby III

Collective silence by lawmakers, school board ... An Insult to Teachers | 27 days ago

Pond’s ethics complaint against Birrell dismissed — again | 9 days ago by Jon Gillooly

Cobb school board members form subcommittee on educator compensation | 15 days ago by Lindsay Field

Comments
(16)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
123qwest
|
July 24, 2012
Does anybody know the reason Mr. Landon, former Principal of Lindley 6th reassigned to AP at North Cobb? The word in the community is he was doing a good job. Also, why does the district not say where he is being reassigned when it clearly states on the district's website and Lindley's website it is North Cobb?
Reply
Terry Freeny
|
July 24, 2012
Open up the ol' brain cells there 123. Are you assuming he wanted to stay? Most of these moves are at the request of the mover. You also say that the district stated in two different places where he is moving but that is preceded by "why does the district not say where?". Thanks for trying to make our heads explode. After reading your plea for us to save you from yourself, all I can say is just - Wow!! (Just tell us - do you drive and are you allowed to vote?)
re: Truth
|
July 25, 2012
Well said. Color it anyway you want: this is a demotion as a result of the "intervention".
The Truth
|
July 25, 2012
Four Cobb schools had Intervention Teams. Of the four principals involved, two of them are now assistant principals. You do the math.

anonymous
|
July 25, 2012
Terry is right. An administrator moving up from school is definitely a step up. Re: needs to get their nose out of the air.
NY Teaching Vet
|
July 24, 2012
@ re Terry Feeny: moving from a middle school Principalship to a high school AP position may just mean that he doesn't have a lot of high school experience and wants to move toward being a high school principal...or maybe he needs to take a bit of a break and have a life - most Principals work incredibly long hours each week.
Helen Fontaine
|
July 24, 2012
To "re" - Are you sure you're not 123? A principal at a middle school to an AP at a high school is a definite promotion. Think before you type next time. Bet you and 123 have never been seen in the same room together. Please don't tell me the two of you will drive each other to the polls next week. Our weak hearts could not bear it.
re: Terry Feeny
|
July 24, 2012


Better count your own brain cells

How many principals ask for demotions? He was reassigned from Principal to an AP...no one ASKS for that. Wake up.

Right On!
|
July 24, 2012
I think Terry Freeny is right. Most of the time when such moves are made it is often by an individual request. I think a good choice. I heard he had been there for a while.
LSGA Employee
|
July 25, 2012
This is neither a demotion nor a result of the intervention team, which in my opinion, did absolutely nothing for the school. He left on a good note with significant improvement in achievement scores.... He also did it without much support from the Board. We all read that our "hair was on fire," but he continued to deliver. We will miss you Mr. Brown.
Lassiter teacher
|
July 24, 2012
Sounds like Hinojosa is getting ready to bring in someone from outside the system to be a high school principal. It will be interesting to see what part of Texas they are from.

A word of caution to the new Pope principal, I hope you know how to say "No" to a certain board member, when they want to break into your private meetings.
Reply
Interestingfact
|
July 24, 2012
I find it interesting that the county has difficulty in finding qualified candidates for CCSD high school principals. The website's Leadership page states that various Leadership Academys exist, so are they not preparing candidates correctly or is it that being a high school principal means giving up so much of ones' life? I believe we should always try to hire from within and our high school principals should train their assistants to be elevarted. This might help the superintendent in his decision-making process. In the end, it is what is best for the students.
Reply
Qualified
|
July 24, 2012
I know several people in CCSD who are VERY GOOD Assistant Principals and they are continually passed over for Principal positions while ineffective people are constantly being promoted. I don't get it.
Fleeing Fast
|
July 24, 2012
The best candidates for high school principalships are fleeing for other systems, particularly Fulton, instead of staying in Cobb. This is the result of poor leadership at the county office--particularly assistant superintendents who are out of touch with what's really happening in schools. Cobb has lost the ability to attract, retain, train, and promote leaders. Of the current high school principals, now many are truly great, innovative, inspiring leaders? Not enough for the district to plot a course toward continued achievement.
anonymous
|
July 24, 2012
Yes, Fleeing, we know that Fulton is that shining beacon on the hill that we all dream about! Then maybe Atlanta followed by Dekalb. Wha?!?!?!?
*We welcome your comments on the stories and issues of the day and seek to provide a forum for the community to voice opinions. All comments are subject to moderator approval before being made visible on the website but are not edited. The use of profanity, obscene and vulgar language, hate speech, and racial slurs is strictly prohibited. Advertisements, promotions, spam, and links to outside websites will also be rejected. Please read our terms of service for full guides