Clarke Central High School Principal Marie Yuran sits in front of the CCHS ceremonial entrance. Yuran is the third principal in the Clarke County School District to resign this year. “When I came to Clarke Central seven year ago, I fell in love with our school. I am thankful for each of you and believe you will achieve your goals. Your hard work and which I observe each day, is my motivation to be the best leader I can,” Yuran said in an email to the CCSD community on March 29. Photo by Zoe Peterson
Clarke Central High School Principal Marie Yuran announces her resignation after serving as principal for nearly two years.
On March 29, Clarke Central High School Principal Marie Yuran announced her resignation effective for the upcoming school year.
“It is now time for me to lead in a new capacity. I have accepted a position with West Georgia Regional Education Service Agency for the upcoming school year. I will always carry each of you and CCHS in my heart as I embark on future endeavors,” Yuran said in an email to CCHS students, faculty members and parents.
Yuran came to CCHS in 2011, serving as a special education team leader and eventually the associate principal. She was named principal on Sept. 1, 2016 after serving as the interim principal following Dr. Robbie P. Hooker’s resignation after the 2015-16 school year.
“To be completely candid with you, when Dr. Hooker announced that he was leaving and he asked me to be the interim, and they told me I was going to be the interim, I was very honest that I didn’t know if I was interested in, or even (interested in) going through the process of becoming the the principal,” Yuran said in a 2016 Q&A with ODYSSEY Media Group Co-Editor-in-Chief Lucia Bermudez. “I really had to do some soul-searching and some thinking.”
CCHS Assistant Principal Dr. Sheila Dunham saw the transition between Hooker and Yuran’s roles and believes it was executed well.
“I think it (was) 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,” Dunham said. “Most importantly, she has great relationships with adults and students. She cares about people.”
Yuran’s departure leaves an opening for new leadership at CCHS. For many students, this change leaves them uncertain about the future.
“When I found out that Mrs. Yuran was leaving, my first thought was, ‘Oh my goodness. Not another one. Dr. Hooker left, and now Mrs. Yuran is (leaving) too.’ I’m glad that we’ve had principals that are talented enough to move onto bigger things, but I wonder who is going to be our principal now,” sophomore Lucy Yeomans said.
Following Cedar Shoals High School Principal DeAnne Varitek’s resignation early this year, CSHS announced that they would invite their faculty and staff to a meeting that would outline the process and timeline for the search.
Though the details of the upcoming CCHS principal search are unknown, Yuran leaves with a positive outlook on the past seven years she has spent at CCHS.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your principal for the past two years. When I came to Clarke Central seven years ago, I fell in love with our school. I am thankful for each of you and believe you will achieve your goals,” Yuran’s email read. “Once you become a CCHS Gladiator and Champion you are forever a member of our family.”
*The ODYSSEY Media Group will post updates regarding the resignation and the search for the new principal when new details are released.
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