The Dougherty County School System will see a big shake up among principals and vice principals next school year.
Superintendent Dr. Joshua Murfree is making the moves to try to improve academic results from students.
Over the last nine months Dr. Murfree has spent a lot of time out of this building and in schools watching the principals, he came up with a lot of changes he wants to make and we understand these changes will go into effect as early as the end of the school year which is next week.
The administration offices at a lot of Dougherty County schools will have different, but familiar faces in them when school begins in August. For starters Westover is the only of four high schools that will have the same principal. It's part of Dr. Murfree's effort to improve academic performance and a majority of the board is backing him.
"He's wanting to make positive changes, that are going to make a difference," said school board member Darrel Ealum.
"There were a couple of appointments or reappointment that I was not happy with, but you know I'm willing to give them a chance, the time frame should be no more than a year," said school board member Carol Tharin.
Board members even questioned if just shifting around principals is really dealing with the problem.
"I said Dr. Murfree do you feel like we're just playing musical chairs, we're just moving things around? He said Darrel I know it can be perceived that way but we have to take this in strides and he said right now these are moves and actions that I can take with the boards approval to immediately start moving us forward," said Ealum.
One of the changes includes moving recently disciplined principal of Southside Middle School Joey James to Assistant Principal at Monroe High. Former Educator and board member Dr. Anita Williams Brown knows first hand some times, just moving an educator can make a difference.
"Sometime we are placed on levels that it's not our expertise and Dr. Murfree has gone around to all the schools, for nine months he's been in and out every day," said Brown.
But Board members say they'll be watching and they expect if the desired results aren't met more changes will come.
"We're not going to sacrifice children anymore to benefit adults," said Brown.
"It is not pleasant to fire anyone, but sometimes it has to be done, so if that's what the end result has to be we'll just have to bite the bullet and do it," said Tharin.
Possibly leading to more tough decision by this time next year.
One of the changes will also include removing Albany High Principal Sheila Marshall, because of Race to the Top requirements.
Several elementary principals will be moved to high schools and high school principals switched to middle schools.
- Here is the complete list of changes to both Principals and Vice Principals for 2011-2012
Dr. Angela Shumate Albany High School
Mr. Jose' Roquemore Dougherty Comprehensive High School
Dr. Valerie Thomas Monroe Comprehensive High School
William Chunn Westover Comprehensive High School
Mr. Horace Reid Albany Middle School
Thelma Chunn Dougherty International Education Middle School
Dr. Sammie Pringle Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet School
Dr. Ufot Inyang Merry Acres Middle School
Vinson Davis Radium Springs Middle School of the Arts
Dr. Johnny Scott Southside Middle School
Pat Victor Alice Coachman Elementary School
Dr. Zeda George International Studies Elementary Charter School
Dr. LaZoria Brawn Jackson Heights Elementary School
Catherine Whitfield Lake Park Elementary School
(Vacant) Lamar Reese Fine Arts Elementary School
Dr. Sheryl Holmes Lincoln Elementary Magnet School
Ellen Lane Live Oak Elementary School
Dr. Jacquelyn Frazier Magnolia Elementary School
Carolyn Scott Martin Luther King Elementary School
Gloria Baker Morningside Elementary School
(Vacant) Northside Elementary School
Gail Griffin Radium Springs Elementary School
Eddie Johnson Sherwood Acres elementary School
Deborah Jones Sylvester Road Elementary School
Dr. Gail Solomon Turner Elementary School
Alene Pringle West Town Elementary School
Dr. John I. Davis South Georgia Regional Achievement Center
Barbara Harvey Coordinator, Early College Initiative
Candy Hergert Director Oak Tree Psycho educational Center
Gloria Kendall Director of Pre-K Program
Scott Horton Albany High School
Kono Smith Albany High School
Benny Rucks Dougherty Comprehensive High School
Sajuana Wilson-Williams Dougherty Comprehensive High School
Ben Johnson Monroe Comprehensive High School
Willie Presley Monroe Comprehensive High School
Joey James Monroe Comprehensive High School
Gene Miles Westover Comprehensive High School
Bruce Bowles Westover Comprehensive High School
Craveous Butler Albany Middle School
Roderick Pollock Dougherty International Education Middle School
Dr. David Hamilton Merry Acres Middle School
Dr. Valarie Williams Merry Acres Middle School
Dr. Kimberly Thompson Radium Springs Middle School
Willie Jackson Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet School
Steven Dudley Southside Middle School
Caria Malone Alice Coachman Elementary School
Layton Stephenson International Studies Elementary School
Barbara Collier (Retired, Vacant) Jackson Heights Elementary School
Kenosha Coleman Lake Park Elementary School
Mr. George Graham Lamar Reese Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School
Brent Fowler Lincoln Elementary Magnet School
Demetria Smith Live Oak Elementary School
Vontressa Childs Magnolia Elementary School
David Adams Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School
Dr. Maqueta Griswold Morningside Elementary School
Yvette Simmons Radium Springs Elementary School
Dr. Christine Ford Sherwood Elementary School
Patricia Green Sylvester Road Elementary
Carrie Kirkland Turner Elementary School
David Walker West Town Elementary School
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