Ann Arbor elementary principal hired to fill opening at Clague Middle School
- Previous coverage: Ann Arbor Public Schools now trying to hire 3 building principals
The Ann Arbor Public Schools has tapped one of its own to fill an open principal position at Clague Middle School.
Clague Middle School
From A2schools.org
Carter is a product of the Ann Arbor schools and has worked for the district in various capacities for the past 19 years. Prior to serving at Pattengill, he was the assistant principal at Forsythe Middle School.
The administrator is returning to his former building with the move, said Communications Director Liz Margolis. Carter grew up on that side of town and attended Clague Middle School himself as a child, so he is excited to rejoin the community in which he was born and raised, she said.
"When you think about Che, the thing that comes to mind is he always puts students first, and you think about the relationships he has with his students and families," Margolis said, adding he was instrumental in helping Pattengill (a school for students in grades 3-5) and Bryant (K-2) function as a pair.
The Clague Middle School principalship became open in December when former Principal Cindy Leaman was named the new head principal at Pioneer High School. Clague Assistant Principal Judy Hayes has been serving as the primary leader for the school in an interim capacity since then. She will continue to serve as the assistant principal under Carter.
In late April, the district posted a generic elementary principal opening anticipating either some reassignments of leadership roles or additional principal retirements prior to the start of the 2013-14 academic year, Margolis said. She explained because the district did away with its early notification incentive for staff who notified human resources in the spring of their intent to retire in the summer, AAPS officials have not known what to expect as far as possible openings and wanted to be prepared.
She said the district has collected numerous applications in response to the generic principal position posting and will begin the process of filling the Pattengill vacancy with this pool of applicants soon. To date, Margolis said there has been just one elementary school principal retirement, Virginia Bell at Burns Park. The Burns Park opening was posted separately.
The Ann Arbor Public Schools posted the Clague Middle School position twice. The first round of applications garnered a combination of 29 internal and external candidates.
Margolis said in early May that Superintendent Patricia Green was searching for the best candidate possible for the position and felt she needed a broader candidate pool, so Green reposted the job. The second application period ended May 3 and yielded about 22 applicants.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
Frustrated in A2
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 4:33 a.m.
Congratulations Ché, I'm happy for you friend!
jns131
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 2:59 a.m.
I knew a cat named Che once. Interesting.
Annette Poole
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 3:07 p.m.
Congrats to Clague but Boo for Pattengill! Mr. Carter was an awesome principal, he seemed to know the name of every child at that school and I've never once seen that man without a smile. He will be missed!
Nick Danger
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 11:23 a.m.
This is a great decision. Che is a wonderful man and great administrator
Dan Ezekiel
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 10:48 a.m.
Che Carter is a fine man, full of energy and love for kids. He is a great pick!
A Voice of Reason
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 2:34 a.m.
Parents and teachers know a good principal when they see one. There are some great ones in this town and no school should have to have a mediocre person running their school just to keep a person employed. Have courage AAPS and make the tough choices. That is what you are being paid to do. Sounds like Clague is getting on of the good ones!
J. A. Pieper
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 12:42 a.m.
The Bach principal, Shelley Bruder has also announced her retirement.
KidsRtheFuture
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 3:19 p.m.
And she was one GREAT principle who will be missed tremendously!!
Momma G
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 9:36 p.m.
Way to go Che' Carter! It appears that Pattengill staff can't seem to welcome anyone with open arms since they lost their long-time Principal Gae Fitch and now they have lost one of the best principals. What a shame. Maybe the last principal before Che' will come back to you. Mr. Carter was all about the students and their success, which the teachers should be, also! They better learn how to be "team" players because in order to make the Bryant/Pattengill configuration really work, that's what is needed. They at least had two principals working together, finally, since Bryant has had a new principal but what will happen now? Good luck!
aamom
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 5:26 p.m.
I am not against principal sharing, but I have always felt that the Title I schools should probably each have a dedicated principal. I think there tends to be more administrative and behavioral issues at those schools. I'm guessing an Angell or a Wines could more easily share because they probably have fewer issues that the principal needs to address.
Basic Bob
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 11:27 p.m.
These two schools could share a principal.
JRW
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 9:16 p.m.
So, is there a deadline for AAPS principals to announce their retirements for 2013-2014? The district needs time to fill these positions, or to reorganize and reassign principals to various schools.
Basic Bob
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 11:24 p.m.
Why replace them? I have little confidence in their ability to select or promote qualified candidates. Or maybe they can pull some "union professionals" out of the special assignment room at Balas and give them a second chance.
A Voice of Reason
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 9:01 p.m.
Any word on the Skyline replacement? It would have been nice to have this person hired in May so they could learn about the school before the first day of class?
Maria Huffman
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 6:38 p.m.
May Che Carter rise to the occasion of his new position and continue to grow personally and professionally, All the best, Maria Huffman
ViSHa
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 6:32 p.m.
Nice to Mr. Carter is getting positive reviews, I'm sure Clague families were holding their collective breath waiting to see who was appointed.
JenM
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 7:24 p.m.
Now Pattengill holds its breath...
Bulldog
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 5:35 p.m.
Che is a great guy who will do well. I have had the pleasure of working with him at the Summer Learning Institute one summer and I found him to be extremely supportive and encouraging of the staff. He had an excellent rapport with the students as well. Really on top of his game! Good Luck, Che!
barefootdave
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 5:30 p.m.
The professionalism he brought to Pattengill was needed and appreciated. Best of luck to you Mr. Carter.
Marc
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 5:15 p.m.
Che and I were friends and went to Clague together way back when. Che is very well rounded and will do an excellent job. Congrats Che. Your friend Marc Volger.
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 5:10 p.m.
RE: "When you think about Che, the thing that comes to mind is he always puts students first, and you think about the relationships he has with his students and families," Margolis said" That right there is the standard we should all be looking for in school administrators, and it should be a matter of policy and operating standards when considering "job applicants." Mr. Carter's approach both solves and prevents problems, some of them quite serious. I base my conclusion on years of friendship with teachers (one of the current ones is my daughter, a grade school teacher who attended Pattengill and Community High) - and on reading three books, "Surviving A School Shooting," "Rampage - The Social Roots of School Shootings," and "Why Kids Kill - Inside the Minds of School Shooters" and finally on the NOVA Science and Frontline documentary shows which were both aired last Feb. 19th.
grye
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 4:56 p.m.
Much thanks to Judy Hayes for filling the void. She has done a wonderful job and has a great relationship with the staff. Her knowledge of the teachers will be valuable during evaluations as the new principal will have had little to no experience with the current staff.
TryingToBeObjective
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 4:49 p.m.
Danielle, can you post a photo of Che? Parents at Clague may want to put a name to a face. Such a nice man, and a great administrator!
TryingToBeObjective
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 4:33 p.m.
Che Carter is awesome! Wish he would have returned to Forsythe. We NEED him there. Our loss is Clagues gain. Treat him well Clague- you're getting one awesome principal!!!
TryingToBeObjective
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 1:32 a.m.
Maybe he had to leave Pattengill- is there any possibility they will be sharing a principal with Bryant? Not wishing it on you, but Che is a newer principal, and I would hate to see him be cut. I'd rather see someone of his caliper prosper. Who knows what the BOE is planning.....
JenM
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 7:26 p.m.
While I understand his desire for the next challenge, Pattengill still needs him as well and he will be greatly missed.
Dr. I. Emsayin
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 4:05 p.m.
Che Carter makes friends with the local community wherever he goes.
PenguinPride
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 3:16 p.m.
It would have been nice if they posted the Burns Park position for other applicants than just AAAA. I certainly hope that is all that is being interviewed. Otherwise, I feel it is dirty pool. There are possible teachers in the district that should be given the opportunity for this very specific posting that was posted as AAAA only.
Bulldog
Tue, Jun 4, 2013 : 5:37 p.m.
It sounds like the administrators are getting out before they take a pay cut! Things are going to get interesting in this district.