Clarke Central High School Principal Marie Yuran welcomes students back after summer break on Aug. 9. Yuran was named principal on Sept. 1, following former CCHS principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker’s departure last spring. “Anytime you lose somebody that has been your boss and you worked so closely with them as a part of a leadership team, it creates a little anxiety because you don’t know which way you are going and what you are dealing with in the future. But, I am pleased with where we are now and I do not have those anxieties,” CCHS Assistant Principal Reginald Thomas said. Photo by Julie Alpaugh.
By ANEESA CONINE-NAKANO – Editor-in-Chief
In light of former Clarke Central High School Principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker’s departure last spring, CCHS Assistant Principal Reginald Thomas discusses changes the team is implementing this year.
Aneesa Conine-Nakano: How has the administrative team had to adjust after Hooker’s departure and with (Clarke Central High School Principal Marie) Yuran’s appointment?
Clarke Central High School Assistant Principal Reginald Thomas: As anytime, when you have the head of your school leave — and I think he was here eight years — that’s obviously a change. It’s been a smooth transition as far as Mrs. Yuran moving into the principalship. The toughest part is the fact that we are one administrator down. We got a high school of about 1,500 students that was built to have four administrators and we only have three. We have (special education department chair) Dr. (Ashlee) Wegmann and (Instructional Specialist) Dr. (Linda) Boza helping out with a lot of the administrative things as well as (Math Coach Summer) Smith, but there’s still an adjustment to be made when you’re one administrator down.
ACN: What was your reaction to Hooker’s departure?
RT: I’ve been an administrator, at that time, nine years. Eight of those nine years were with (Hooker). Anytime you lose somebody that has been your boss and you worked so closely with them as a part of a leadership team, it creates a little anxiety because you don’t know which way you are going and what you are dealing with in the future, but I am pleased with where we are now and I do not have those anxieties. We are in a good place. Once I got over the initial shock of having to adjust to a new leader, I was good.
ACN: Are there any plans to add a new administrator?
RT: Yes, the job is open and being advertised, so it’s just a matter of interviewing somebody who fits the bill of the school, so it’s an active process. It is in motion to hire a new associate principal.
ACN: How would you say, as an administration team, you are looking to change certain aspects of the school environment?
RT: We want to continue to create a climate of success. Mrs. Yuran has stepped in and implemented that we are a school of champions. There is a thing called the (Positive Behavior Incentive Support) committee which we launched this year. There’s a lot of things like positive incentives for students, as well as faculty, which will help change the climate of the school and it just so happens it came together at the same time. I don’t think it’s necessarily one person left and one person took over. It all just came together at the same time. I think we are going to move forward and be in a good place.
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