PRESS RELEASE

FROM:
John H. Powers, Superintendent of Schools
Oyster River Cooperative School District
SAU #5, 36 Coe Drive, Durham NH 03824

DATE:
May 8, 1996

For immediate release:

The Oyster River School Board, at its meeting of Tuesday evening, May 7, elected Marcia Walters Ross of Gilford, New Hampshire, as Principal of the Oyster River Middle School effective July 1, 1996.

Mrs. Ross is currently Assistant Principal at the Gilford, New Hampshire, Middle/High School with primary responsibilities at the middle school level. Her career has had a middle grades focus throughout, having taught middle level geography and U.S. history for six years at the Kingswood Regional Junior/Senior High School, and social studies, reading, and art at the middle grades level in Barnstead, New Hampshire. She has held her current position for the past seven years.

In 1988-89 Mrs. Ross became familiar with the Oyster River schools through an honorary appointment as Teacher in Residence at the University of New Hampshire, a position which included the supervision of teacher interns at the former Oyster River Elementary School. She was the 1987 New Hampshire Social Studies Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Ross is a member of the New England League of Middle Schools and was recently appointed to its executive board. Other professional affiliations include the National Association of Middle Schools, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the national and New Hampshire Association of School Principals. She holds Bachelor and Masters degrees from the University of New Hampshire and is currently enrolled in its Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies program.

The school board selection of Mrs. Ross resulted from an intensive search process. Following the initial screening of some 27 candidates, the board authorized the formation of independent committees of teachers and parent/community members to interview finalist candidates, to visit these candidates at their current places of employment, and to file reports of findings. Committee members were invited to observe the finalist candidate interviews before the board, and to address and interact with the board regarding their observations.

Among the many qualities Mrs. Ross brings to the district is her understanding and career commitment to the middle school child and middle level education; her genuine inclusion of teachers, parents, and students in the decision making process; and her administrative and supervisory experience with teachers and students at this age level.

The position has been vacant since mid-August 1995 when Principal Thomas Andrews resigned for personal reasons. Recently retired Mast Way Principal John Lowy agreed to step in as Interim Principal through November, at which time School Superintendent John Powers assumed the Interim Principalship duties with Mr. Lowy continuing in a part-time consultant capacity.

Last update on 29-Mar-99 at 9:27 PM.

http://www.orol.org/district/press_releases/pr_960508.html

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