GENTRY — Brae Harper, currently serving as assistant principal and athletic director, will be the new high school principal in Gentry next year.Harper begins his new duties July 1.
He fills the role vacated by current high school principal Judy Winslett, who transferred into the recreated role of federal programs/curriculum coordinator for the school district.
Harper’s transfer request was approved by unanimous vote of the school board at a special meeting on Thursday evening.
Gentry school superintendent Randy Barrett recommended that Harper’s transfer request be approved, citing his qualifications to be a principal or a superintendent and his five years of experience in the district.
Barrett provided the board with the teacher’s license and the educational and employment history of Harper.
In addition to his qualification to serve as a district administrator and high school principal, Harper has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, a master's degree in education from Arizona State University at Tempe, and an education specialist degreefrom Harding University in Searcy. He’s been employed as an educator and coach at Arizona State University in Tempe, Fordyce School District in Fordyce, County Line Schools in Branch and the Gentry Public Schools.
“I believe he’s qualified and has earned the opportunity to serve in this new role,” Barrett told the board.
Board member Coye Cripps told Harper that he had done an excellent job as the school’s athletic director and would be much missed in that role.
Also approved at the special council meeting on Thursday was the hiring of Sean Price as head boys’ basketball coach and Sarah Pfeifer as a teacher and junior girl’s head basketball coach.
The board approved the one-time payment of a $300 newspaper stipend to Alishia Ramsey for her work in bringing back the school newspaper, Pioneer Press.
The resignation of Susan Adams as a cafeteria cook was accepted.
Extra-duty assignments were given to the following: Kathy Baxter, Gentry Middle School parent involvement coordinator; Jason Barrett, activity bus driver; Robert Savage, activity bus backupdriver; Patrick Lanford, Gentry High School yearbook sponsor; Kori Wilbur, junior cheerleader sponsor.
Contracts for Tim Rippy and for Sean Price were extended from 240 days to 245 because of extra duties in coaching basketball.
Reported to the board was the yet unfilled Gentry Intermediate School library media specialist position.
Approved at the May 17 school board meeting were three “involuntary transfers” due to the school district’s staffing needs: Melissa Wilson was moved from hersecond grade teaching position to first grade because of class sizes; Tim Rippy was moved from his assistant coaching position with the senior boys’ basketball team to assistant junior girls basketball; and Nick Bartmier from junior girls assistant basketball coach to senior boys assistant basketball coach.
News, Pages 1 on 06/02/2010