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By DONNA WINCHESTER, Times Staff WriterHarry Brown, formerly the International Baccalaureate coordinator, is now principal. Christine O. Lowry takes over IB duties.
Harry Brown, Palm Harbor University High School's former International Baccalaureate coordinator, has been named the school's new principal.
Brown replaced former principal Alec Liem, who left the school in November to become one of the directors of school operations. Liem's duties now include advising principals at schools from Clearwater to Tarpon Springs.
Christine O. Lowry, the administrator who oversees the district's popular magnet and fundamental schools, has been chosen to take over the school's IB duties, overseeing the rigorous, internationally known college preparatory program.
"It was kind of a domino effect," Brown said of the changes.
The 43-year-old administrator came to the Pinellas school district almost 20 years ago after earning a bachelor's degree in education and psychology from the State University of New York. He finished master's and doctoral degrees in educational leadership with a concentration in curriculum from Nova Southeastern University.
His first job was as a teacher at Northeast High School, where he taught gifted and traditional students in the mid 1980s. From there he went to the IB program at St. Petersburg High, then became a resource teacher for homeless children and youths.
He returned to Northeast High as assistant principal and served as assistant principal at Largo High before coming to Palm Harbor University High 31/2 years ago.
He said he views his greatest challenge as maintaining the school's focus and providing students with the best possible education.
"It's an extraordinary school mainly because of our parents," Brown said. "We also have outstanding students and a very dedicated faculty."
Brown interviewed the candidates for his former job and sent his recommendation of Lowry to Area I superintendent Oscar Robinson.
"I know the job well because I just finished it," Brown said. "There is certainly no one better qualified to come into a job such as this."
Lowry, 52, began her career in Pinellas County as an elementary teacher. She also worked as a middle school teacher and a teacher of gifted students before becoming a district administrator. Last year, she was transferred temporarily to Pinellas Park Middle School as assistant principal.
Because the IB coordinator job is essentially an assistant principal position, Lowry will be responsible for attendance and student discipline in the school's traditional program, as well as for day-to-day operations in the IB program. She will be schoolwide manager for textbooks and will edit the school newsletter.
She said her brief stint as assistant principal at Pinellas Park Middle School reminded her of how much she loves working with children. Since returning to the administration building, she has continued to spend two afternoons a week at the middle school mentoring students.
"All the students for whom she is a mentor have improved tremendously academically and behaviorally," said Valerie Brimm, Pinellas Park Middle School principal.
She called Lowry a true student advocate who always put the needs of children first.
"Chris was wonderful, absolutely wonderful, not only with all the administrative duties the job entailed," Brimm said. "She had an excellent rapport with parents, and she was really student-focused."
Brown, whose appointment was approved by the School Board at its Jan. 11 meeting, will earn $76,713.
Lowry, whose appointment is pending School Board approval on Tuesday, will earn $76,475.