by Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Superintendent Neil Pedersen said on Wednesday his recent decision to replace Jeff Thomas as principal of Carrboro High School was based on unsolicited feedback from staff and parents, as well as the results of surveys that indicated both students and teachers were unhappy with their experiences at Carrboro High.
The district announced last week that Thomas was reassigned to the district’s central office and that Rodney Trice, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction, will serve as interim principal. The release announcing the change did not indicate why Thomas was being replaced.
Pedersen said survey results influenced his decision to replace Thomas, in that he used them to either confirm or refute individual perceptions. He said his decision was also based on his work with Thomas, as he and other central office staff had worked closely with Thomas over the past two years. Thomas served as principal of Carrboro High since 2006 and opened the school last August.
According to the results of the state’s 2008 Teacher Working Conditions survey, 34 percent of Carrboro High teachers reported that they strongly disagreed and 29 percent reported that they somewhat disagreed that “there is an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect within the school†in regards to leadership at the school, compared with 12 percent and 16 percent of teachers district-wide, respectively.
In addition, 22 percent of Carrboro High teachers reported that they strongly disagreed and 35 percent reported that they somewhat disagreed that “the school leadership consistently supports teachers,†compared with 10 percent and 15 percent of teachers district-wide, respectively.
Thirty-nine percent of Carrboro High teachers reported that they strongly disagreed that “overall, the school leadership in the school is effective,†compared with 14 percent district-wide.
In addition, recently released results of a high school climate survey administered to students in January reported that just over half of Carrboro High students were proud to be a student at their school, compared with about 75 to 80 percent of students at Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill high schools.
Because Thomas has a year left on his contract, he was reassigned to the district’s central office, but his responsibilities have not yet been determined, according to Pedersen.
District officials expect that Trice will serve as interim principal until August, when they hope to make a permanent appointment prior to the beginning of the school year.
Pedersen said district officials have asked the Carrboro High School Improvement Team to identify a selection committee to develop a profile for what the school is looking for in a new principal that will help guide the search process.