New Principal for TOPS K-8

From Dr. Enfield to the TOPS community:

I am excited today to announce the appointment of Chris Scott as your new principal, effective July 30, 2012.
 
Dr. Scott comes to TOPS from Raleigh, North Carolina, where he is currently the principal of a gifted and talented magnet school. Dr. Scott earned his doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he focused on social justice and equity in public education and conducted research addressing educational opportunities of American Indian students.
 
Dr. Scott was selected after a hiring process that included interviews with a team consisting of four parents, three certificated staff and one classified staff member. The process was comprehensive and the members of the committee were nominated through the TOPs site council. Candidates also participated in a site-visit.  The selection team committee was particularly impressed with Dr. Scott’s both his personal and professional dedication to social justice. Dr. Scott appreciates the unique culture at TOPS and will be a great fit for the community.
 
We will set up opportunities for building staff, students and families to meet your new principal. Thank you for the high expectations that you set for every student, and for all that you do. A special “thank you” to the family members and staff who served on the hiring committee.
 

Comments

Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
3/21/12, 9:51 PM
Maureen said…
Anonymous, you're going to be deleted (no signature). Repost with a name and I'll recap the saga!
3/21/12, 9:54 PM
Maureen said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
3/21/12, 9:56 PM
Anonymous said…
I'm late to the game- what happened to the current principal?

Info seeking parent
3/21/12, 10:01 PM
dan dempsey said…
Check this out=>

http://fulleres.wcpss.net/about_us.htm

This is Dr. Scott's fourth year as principal at Fuller G/T Magnet Elementary School and he looks forward to continued service to families and educators in the Wake County Public School System.

Good News on the Principal's page is a link to a paper by E.D. Hirsch of Core-Knowledge fame.

THE PAPER
3/21/12, 10:05 PM
Anonymous said…
Did anyone else think twice about his gifted ed background? Hum... Salmon Bay is an 'option school' for enrollment purposes, which means that SPS can control enrollment into that school, unlike neighborhood attendance area schools. Just saying I am curious about why he is being placed at this school as opposed to all of the others which are looking to install a new principal.

-why this one and not BF Day or Viewlands?
3/21/12, 10:14 PM
Anonymous said…
Oops, I meant Tops K-8, of course, not Salmon Bay!

-why this one and not BF Day or Viewlands?
3/21/12, 10:15 PM
Charlie Mas said…
I sure hope all schools looking for a principal get similar input into the selection.
3/21/12, 10:16 PM
Maureen said…
Info Seeking Parent, TOPS' longtime principal retired in 2010. Maria Goodloe-Johnson moved the long time Leschi K-5 principal to TOPS. She stayed two years then was moved to LaFayette. For the 2011-12 school year, TOPS has had an interim principal (fabulous BiHoa Caldwell), who is actually retired so can't stay. Interim Superintendent Enfield and Executive Director Brockman facilitated a hiring process for the new principal that actually took the Alternative School Policy (C54.00) into account, unlike when MG-J appointed the previous principal.

TOPS' Site Council was able to help write the job description and advertise the position nationally. Four parents were on the hiring committee. Dr. Scott did his doctoral work on social justice issues. And he skis!

Re gifted ed background. From what I understand, his philosophy on gifted ed will be a very good fit for TOPS. Also, TOPS started looking well before SB/Viewlands/BFday had openings.

Charlie, I believe this process was seen by the District as a trial run for principal hiring processes for all schools (though with Enfield leaving, not sure if that will stand?).
3/21/12, 10:25 PM
Floor Pie said…
Congratulations, TOPS! An excellent principal makes all the difference.
3/22/12, 6:25 AM
Anonymous said…
Salmon Bay will be hiring a new principal this year. I'm not involved at all. But based on communications in e-mails and newsletters, it seems like there's been a similar process to the one Maureen describes. I don't think interviews at Salmon Bay have started yet.

-Laura
3/22/12, 7:23 AM
me again said…
Just one more improvement made by Dr. Enfield. Too bad we're losing her. Who knows what we'll get next...
3/22/12, 7:37 AM
Jet City mom said…
Too bad they never did a superintendent search at Summit despite promises from the previous administration to do so. Rotating principals really hurts a school.
3/22/12, 4:29 PM
Maureen said…
FWIW, Policy C54.00 was on the books before Enfield was appointed. Credit for actually applying might just as easily go to the Board and/or Ex Director.
3/22/12, 5:10 PM
Anonymous said…
I am so excited for Dr. Scott to join our community. TOPS has had a rough couple of years...this year is vastly improved with our new leadership, but unfortunately the amazing Ms. Caldwell is only an interim. From what I have heard, Dr. Scott has the drive and the energy and the social justice perspective that is desperately needed in our school. Hats off to the district for honoring the policy and allowing TOPS to be involved in principal selection.

TOPS parent
3/23/12, 9:36 AM
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