YPSILANTI, MI – Although she’s only been involved with the district in an advisory role, Turquoise Neal said she’s been a Grizzly for almost two years.
Neal has spent the past couple of years assisting Ypsilanti Community Schools and other schools throughout the state with identifying root causes, problem-solving and developing action plans to address student needs through the MI Excel Statewide Field Team.
Her focus will now narrow exclusively to Ypsilanti Community Middle School after the district’s Board of Education approved hiring Neal as its full-time principal during its Monday, Feb. 17 meeting.
Neal’s work with MI Excel has included helping the district and middle school implement its Blueprint for Turnaround plan.
“I’m stepping into an opportunity to really impact the lives of the children at the middle school,” Neal said. “I’m excited about having that Blueprint work come alive in the building. That work I’ve been doing across the state - we’ll be able to do that work right at the middle school.”
Neal brings with her a variety of different experiences in K-12 education, as well as a familiarity with the middle school staff and students, making her an ideal candidate the district discovered beyond its ongoing search for a middle school principal, Ypsilanti Community Schools Superintendent Alena Zachery-Ross said.
“It was a leap of faith to ask and to work through those details,” Zachery-Ross said. “To be able to come back as a principal and do the work that we’ve been talking here with someone with her expertise is unbelievable and is a gift.”
A major focus of the district has been to provide consistent leadership at the middle school, Zachery-Ross said, where there has been consistent turnover in recent years.
The district hired Shelley Holt as Ypsilanti Community Middle School interim principal last month. The temporary hire came after Holt’s leadership was investigated by Wayne-Westland Community School District, with allegations she abused her power and created a fear-based culture.
Holt filed a $2-million lawsuit against Wayne-Westand schools, claiming defamation of character and retaliation against her. The parties settled in October, effectively ending the lawsuit and Holt’s tenure as superintendent.
Holt is filling the role vacated by former middle school principal Steve Elam, who resigned Jan. 20, citing family and personal reasons, Zachery-Ross said. The district had been engaged in the search process by reconnecting with candidates – both internal and external - who applied for the position last year.
It became apparent to Zachery-Ross and others on staff, however, that Neal’s extensive experience in education would be an asset, combined with her understanding of the challenges the school is facing.
“We’re focusing in on those things we need to improve on. We’re not hiding from it,” Zachery-Ross said. “The progress is happening, and I know if we get that stability, then our students can feel that, and they’ll be able to be their best.”
Neal’s work history also includes experience as chief academic officer for the Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences School District from 2009 to 2018, where she also served as K-8 principal, curriculum director and federal programs coordinator.
Neal has a bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Michigan, with a master’s degree from the University of Detroit Mercy.
Educator who did battle with former district hired by Ypsilanti schools as interim principal
Ypsilanti Schools to combine middle schools for 2018-2019
Ypsilanti principals to swap roles for 2017-18 school year
"middle" - Google News
February 19, 2020 at 01:59AM
https://ift.tt/2uOas7o
Ypsilanti Community Schools hopes new principal will bring stability to middle school - MLive.com
"middle" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2MY042F
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
No comments:
Post a Comment