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Clarke County School District’s Board of Education approved Marie Yuran as Clarke Central High School Principal on Sept. 1. Superintendent of Clarke County Schools Dr. Philip Lanoue and Associate Superintendent for Human Resources and Student Services Dr. Sherry Freeman came to CCHS on Sept. 2 to make the announcement to the faculty and staff. Yuran was joined by her family for the announcement and subsequent celebration. Gallery by Julie Alpaugh.
By KATY MAYFIELD – Print Viewpoints Editor
By JULIE ALPAUGH – Visuals Coordinator
Interim Principal Marie Yuran was chosen as Clarke Central High School’s principal by school and district level selection committees.
The Clarke County School District Board of Education named interim principal Marie Yuran on Sep. 1 as Clarke Central High School’s new principal in a press release. The district also named new principals for Winterville and Whit Davis Elementary Schools.
“These three individuals have proven themselves to be exceptionally caring, instructionally-driven and have well-served the district in their current respective roles,” Superintendent Philip Lanoue said in the press release.
Yuran, who began her CCHS career in 2011, was a special education team leader, then assistant principal from Sept. 2014 until the start of the 2016 school year, when she took on the role of interim principal following principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker’s departure in June.
“I think it’s been a seamless transition from Hooker to Yuran and she’s been on top of things, she’s very proactive as opposed to reactive to situations. I think she’s done an excellent job,” Associate Principal Dr. Sheila Dunham said. “Most importantly, she has great relationships with adults and students. She cares about people.”
All three principals were chosen by the CCSD’s tiered selection procedure, in which a Tier 1 school committee assembles to screen applications, conduct interviews and ultimately choose at least two candidates for principal. The Tier 1 committee ordinarily includes four staff members, four parent members, three office members and one principal.
“Typically, we have between nine and 12 committee members. In Clarke Central’s case we had 15 members on the committee to ensure that we had broad representation,” Associate Superintendent of Human Resources and Student Services Dr. Sherri Freeman said.
According to CCSD informational documents, once it selects two candidates, the Tier 1 committee sends their recommendations on to the district’s Tier 2 committee, which is comprised of the Superintendent, Associate Superintendents, Chief Financial Officer and the Executive Officer of Secondary Services. Tier 2 holds interviews and meetings with both candidates before coming to a decision, which the Superintendent submits to the Board of Education for approval.
“I’m excited to get the opportunity to continue to work with Ms. Yuran, and I know that she would have still been our associate principal, but I trust the committee’s decision that she was the best person for the job,” Dunham said.
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