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"Without community support, the schools are an island,'' one says. Here's the new crop steering the schools.
By LORRI HELFAND
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 12, 2001
It's a square dance of sorts. Principals do-si-do through the district, choosing new partners, as the community claps in the background.
At least that's the image you'll see if you listen to this year's crop of new principals. Most say they plan to cultivate "neighborhood schools," brimming with community and family involvement. Pinellas Superintendent Howard Hinesley thinks there may be a reason why most new leaders are on the same page.
It has always been a priority, he said, but there may be an extra incentive to create a homey atmosphere with school choice on the horizon. The plan, which will allow parents to choose schools from attendance areas, will start being phased in in 2003.
"I'm just speculating, but as we move toward choice, that brings a new pressure," Hinesley said. "Schools are obviously sensitive to that."
Meet the new principals below and see why several think cozy campuses are so important.
St. Petersburg
Some folks may bemoan the state of education, but Sandra O'Bryant, 57, the interim principal of Bear Creek Elementary, sees the positives.
"I think this is a very exciting time to be in education. We know more about how children learn. And we're seeing a resurgence of interest in children," she said.
O'Bryant leaves Pinellas Central Elementary, where she served as assistant principal for three years. She looks forward to leading Bear Creek because of its reputation for community support.
"The community is our customer. We're preparing the children to go out into the community and work," she said. "Without community support, the schools are an island, and we don't want that."
Her first district job was teaching at Eisenhower Elementary School 28 years ago. Before coming to Bear Creek, she worked as a facilitator at Clearview Elementary.
She received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Pfeiffer College in North Carolina and her master's degree in education administration and supervision from the University of South Florida.
Tarpon Springs
Clayton Snare, 53, who was the site administrator at Pinellas Technical Education Center's St. Petersburg campus, arrives at East Lake High with two perspectives: one as an educator and one as a resident. "It's an A-rated school. You hear so much about the staff and what it's done with the students. I think any educator would want to be a part of that environment," he said.
And Snare has seen that firsthand because both his son and daughter graduated from East Lake.
Snare has 27 years of educational experience in Pinellas. His first teaching job was at Bay Vista Elementary. Before PTECH, Snare was the director of Seminole Vocational Education Center.
Snare holds a bachelor's degree in education from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. He earned a master's degree in guidance and counseling and an education specialist degree in administration from the University of South Florida.
In 1996, Snare was named Volunteer of the Year by the North Pinellas Family YMCA.
"I think it's important to give back (to the) community. It has done a lot for my kids and my family," said Snare, who applauds the efforts of other parents involved with schools and extracurricular activities.
Palm Harbor
Like her peers, Carolyn Sinclair, 55, the former Skyview Elementary principal, heads to Highland Lakes Elementary touting the importance of community support.
"Because the school can't do the job alone, we need to develop a good rapport with parents, the community and teachers. The partnership is crucial to provide the conditions for high achievement," she said.
Sinclair's district career spans 20 years. Her first district teaching job was at Maximo Elementary. Before Skyview, she served as an assistant principal at Woodlawn Elementary. She also was a resource teacher for the Title I program, which serves schools with a high number of low-income families.
She received a bachelor's degree in sociology and master's degree in education from Syracuse University, and an educational specialist degree in administration from Nova University.
When she's not wrapped up in school duties, you'll probably find her hanging out with friends or riding on the back of a Harley Davidson.
Largo
Bob Poth, 42, who was an assistant principal at Cross Bayou Elementary, has found his "perfect match" at Ridgecrest Elementary.
The former technology specialist said he's glad to bring his expertise to Ridgecrest, a school that embraces technology.
"I think it's essential that students be technology-savvy and that they understand the capabilities of technology not just for the Internet but for organization and in their daily lives," he said.
Poth said he plans to follow the same philosophy at Ridgecrest that he and his staff practiced at Cross Bayou.
"It's all inclusive. Every staff member embraced a leadership role. We always asked, "Is this what's best for the kids?' "
Poth's 18-year district career began as a teacher at Tyrone Elementary. He served as a technology specialist at Norwood and Sexton elementaries before heading to Cross Bayou. He earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education and master's degree in educational leadership from the University of South Florida.
After seven years as principal of San Jose Elementary in Dunedin, Debbie Ramker wanted a new challenge.
"I was just ready to make a change to move to another school that had a great tradition. Being right in the middle of the city of Safety Harbor, it's just a great community school," she said.
Ramker thinks her talent as a listener will help her build relationships that will keep the school right on target.
"I'm just looking forward to working as a team with all the parents and the teachers trying to provide the best possible learning environment for our kids," Ramker said.
Ramker's career in Pinellas County spans 26 years. She began teaching at Lakewood High School and served at seven district schools, including Oldsmar Elementary, where she was assistant principal before heading to San Jose.
She received a bachelor's degree in social studies from Florida State University and a master's degree in administration and supervision from Nova University.
Dunedin
Heading San Jose Elementary is a dream come true for Michael Bailey, 56, who was the magnet coordinator and an assistant principal at John Hopkins Center for the Arts and Communication Studies. "I'm still kind of in shock. I never dreamed I would go back there as principal. When the position came in, I put my name in so quickly," said Bailey, who served as San Jose's assistant principal from 1994-98.
Fond memories and a good reputation made it No. 1 on his list.
"The people there call it the best-kept secret in Pinellas County. It's a nice neighborhood school. It has a very stable staff and kids whose parents went there. It's a nice place to be," he said.
Bailey has 22 years of experience in district. He first served the district as choir director of Tarpon Springs High. He earned a bachelor's degree in music and a master's in music education from Ball State University in Indiana.
It was hard for Richard Misenti, 46, to leave East Lake High, where he had been principal for seven years. The school jumped from a C to an A this year.
"It was difficult to leave such a tremendous community and wonderful faculty and student body," he said.
Still, he finds comfort in the similarities he sees between East Lake and his new school. "Early on, here at Seminole, it's very easy to see that there won't be much of a change in the types of students or community involvement that I'm used to. It reminds me very much of East Lake. It has a strong faculty, involved community and tremendous student body," he said.
Serving 25 years in the district, Misenti first taught at Northeast High School. At Countryside High School, he served as a teacher, an assistant principal and the school's first baseball coach.
He received a bachelor's degree in English secondary education from Eckerd College and a master's degree in administration and supervision from Nova University.
Pinellas Park
Skyview interim principal Douglas Cowley, 51, learned valuable lessons from his first district job 17 years ago. As a guidance counselor at Paul B. Stephens, he worked with children with disabilities.
"It teaches you to be patient and that different kids learn in different ways. You explore all different avenues as you try to work with kids and give all of them an opportunity to learn in their own way," he said.
Before pursuing a career in education, Cowley worked with mentally handicapped kids with the state's department of developmental services.
Before Skyview, he served as assistant principal at Ponce de Leon Elementary.
He received a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, and both a master's degree in guidance counseling and an educational leadership certificate from the University of South Florida.
Clearwater
Randall Rozelle's commitment to the district began 29 years ago. As a hard-working teenager, he served as custodian at Tyrone Elementary. Six years later he began teaching at Walsingham Elementary.
This year, Rozelle, 45, comes to South Ward Elementary from Robinson Challenge. As principal there, he learned several strategies to help discouraged students.
"I hope that I can bring that experience with me to South Ward, because every school has a population of underachieving students," he said.
And all students can benefit from a nurturing environment and family atmosphere, he said.
"If every day you go to school and you're not recognized by too many adults, you're not as interested. But if every adult keeps you on track, that's a feeling of belonging and knowing that everyone is out to make you the best you can be," he said.
Before coming to Robinson Challenge, Rozelle served as assistant principal at Skyview Elementary. He received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of South Florida and a master's in administration and supervision from Nova University.
Tarpon Springs
Rory Morris-Richardson, 50, comes full circle as she arrives at Sunset Hills.
"It's always been a dream of mine to serve in a true community school," she said.
By 1985, Morris-Richardson had spent 14 years working her way up the educational ladder in Duval County, serving as an elementary school principal for four years. After moving to Pinellas County, where she grew up, she began working in community and adult education. Four years ago, she moved back into elementary education and started to climb the ladder again.
From her varied experience, she sees parental support as the key to student achievement.
"When you look at the parents, research shows that parental involvement in children's education is probably the No. 1 factor in the children's success in school," she said.
Morris-Richardson began her Pinellas career at Tarpon Springs Community School. She comes to Sunset Hills from Safety Harbor Elementary, where she served as assistant principal. She earned a bachelor's degree in education and an educational specialist degree from the University of Florida and a master's in teaching from Jacksonville University.
Principals are in charge of practically everything that happens at school, from curriculum development to discipline decisions. Their lengthy list of duties includes school maintenance, budgeting, public relations and teacher training. They have to maintain high school grades and low dropout rates while keeping parents satisfied. The superintendent makes recommendations on hiring principals. The School Board approves them.