How are new school principals selected? If you had attended last Thursday's meeting at Apopka High School you would have learned all about it from a PowerPoint presentation entitled "OCPS Principal Selection Process 2015-16."
The process involves five steps, but, as those in attendance learned, "At any time during this entire process, the superintendent may select a candidate who she feels best fits the need of the school, thus ending the process."
Last Thursday's meeting was part of Step 2, "Meet with Parents." Only a handful of people attend the meeting. The group included one Apopka High School student, freshman-going-on-sophomore Chris Tater. He provided The Apopka Voice with this perspective:
"From a student's perspective, I want to see several things in our new principal.
One of the major one of these is student interaction, and in that, I would request several things. One: for him to actively participate in teaching. Whether it be filling in for a teacher when there weren't enough subs (during which sessions we would all sit in the auditorium).
Two: Allowing students to, at the very least, comment on school policies in say semester-based or annual forums.
Three: Just simply more --well, interaction. During my tenure as a freshman, barring a few instances, his only visible purpose was being another administrator yelling at us in the halls to put away our headphones, and the occasional reverent allusion from a teacher.
In short, I want him to be more than a generic authority figure, and instead, an actual person regarded by the students."
Christine Moore, District 7 OCPS School Board Member, told The Apopka Voice that the name of the new Apopka High School Principal might be announced at tomorrow's School Board meeting.
The entire process is outlined below:
Step 1: Position is Advertised
Once an opening at a school has been determined, the position is advertised
All eligible principals and assistant principals in the pool receive an email
Everyone receiving the email meets minimum requirements for the position
Step 2: High School Office Conducts Principal Profile
High School Office meet with staff
High School Office meet with parents
Record qualities both groups are looking for in a candidate
Cannot discriminate based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other reason prohibited by law.
Step 3: High School Office Gathers Resumes
Receives resumes from interested sitting principals and assistant principals
Receives eligibility list from Personnel to ensure all candidates that applied have met minimum eligibility
Step 4: High School Office Creates Matrix
Matrix is created based upon the profile collection
High School Office matches resumes received to find those that best fit the profile
High School Office sorts first by sitting principals and then by interested assistant principals
Reference checks are conducted
Step 5: Panel Interview
Candidates are selected based upon the matrix from the profile
Panel interviews candidates
Panel recommends 3 candidates
High School Office takes 3 candidates to deputy superintendent
Deputy superintendent sets up interview with the 1-3 candidates with the superintendent
Superintendent selects candidate and submits name to School Board
The actual PowerPoint can be viewed here: OCPS Principal Selection
