Priscilla Collins, formerly principal of Gainesville Exploration Academy, who worked on Special Assignment for Race to the Top in 2011-2012, has been named as Director of School Improvement. Collins will continue her role in working on the Race to the Top grant, leading implementation of the new teacher and leader evaluation system, and work with school leadership teams to link the evaluation system to school improvement initiatives. She has ten years of administrative and leadership experience and taught in Gainesville City Schools at Centennial Arts Academy for 14 years prior to entering administration.
Renee Boatright, Associate Principal of Gainesville Exploration Academy (GEA) in 2011-2012, has been named as Principal of Gainesville Exploration Academy. Boatright has served as Assistant Principal for four years and taught at GEA for five years prior to entering administration.
Lesa Hartley, formerly Academic Coordinator and Gifted Education teacher at Gainesville Exploration Academy, has been named Assistant Principal at Gainesville Exploration Academy. Hartley has been at GEA for four years. She previously taught for 22 years at Centennial Arts Academy.
Gainesville High School (GHS) will continue with the acting leadership team that was appointed in March due to the illness and subsequent death of Principal Chris Mance.
LaCrisia Larkin will continue as acting principal. Larkin is the Director of CTAE Programs for Gainesville City Schools and served as Assistant Principal at GHS for seven years. She served as a teacher for 22 years at Gainesville High School prior to entering administration.
In addition, the city school system is implementing a new structure of teacher-leadership for 2012-2013. This is a result of work done through Race to the Top in implementing a new distributed leadership model. A "Teacher Leadership Team" consisting of the Academic Coach, Media Specialist, Teacher Data Manager, Instructional Technology Teacher, and grade level or department chairs will be used for Teacher Induction and leadership in their respective departments in implementing the school improvement plans. This group is receiving specialized training this summer. Funding for additional compensation for these teachers is made possible by moving central office administrative funding to the school level.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/7/250258