(Oklahoma City, OK) – New superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools Dr. John Q. Porter on his first day announced administrative team changes for the new John Marshall High School.  A “fresh start” for John Marshall was approved by the incoming superintendent, who proposed an entirely new leadership team and direction, effective immediately.  Porter’s strategy for the brand-new school aims to accelerate academic achievement and ensure a safe learning environment for every student.  The superintendent’s plan was unanimously approved by the board at their meeting on July 2, 2007.

 

 Administrative changes at the school include the appointment of Mr. Corey Harris as the new principal of John Marshall, effective July 3, 2007.   A Tulsa, OK, native and graduate of its nationally renowned Booker T. Washington High, Harris is returning to his home state from Preeminent Charter School in Raleigh, NC, where he has served as principal, since 2006.  Before that, he was principal of Longview Middle School in Memphis, TN, from 2004-2006.  In that post, he was instrumental in implementing rigorous instructional programming and turning around the under-performing school at every level.  While there, Harris increased student achievement, maintained a safe, positive and respectful learning community and, ultimately, moved the school off the state’s “high priority” list and into “good standing.”  Prior to that, he was assistant principal of Snowden, a high-performing college preparatory school in Memphis that is noted for its academic rigor.  Harris earned a bachelor’s degree from Rust College and master’s degree from the University of Memphis where he currently is doctoral candidate.

 

 Also announced was the appointment of Mr. Terry Brown, a new Executive Director of Student Performance for OKCPS, to whom Harris will report.  Brown is charged with overseeing area learning communities for the district, including the new John Marshall High School, Classen School for Advanced Studies and the future Oklahoma Centennial High School.  Brown’s experience in education spans more than 20 years as an educator and administrator for Memphis City Schools, the nation’s 21st largest urban school district.  Prior to his appointment with OKCPS, he served as principal at Memphis’ White Station High School, a high-performing college preparatory learning community that is nationally recognized by Newsweek and US News and World Report for its educational excellence.  Among his accomplishments, he counts the Principal of the Year Trailblazer Award, the Administrator of the Year Award by the Tennessee Association of Middle Schools and the Harvard Principal Leadership Program.  Brown earned his bachelor’s degree from Crichton College and master’s degree from the University of Memphis.

 

“In Oklahoma City Public Schools, we have worked hard to put into place a system that puts student achievement first, that makes a quality education for all our students the foundation for everything we do and drives our decisions and actions on a daily basis,” said Porter. “We thank Ms. Liles and her entire staff for their hard work every day at John Marshall, and we know that each of them will greatly contribute to student achievement at new learning environments.”  Dr. Porter added, “No one can accomplish this essential work alone, so we invite the community to join hands with us as we strive to ensure the success of our students, staff and schools.”

 

More administrative changes at other schools were announced by Superintendent Porter and unanimously approved by the board.  Those include the appointment of Ms. Trina Liles as principal of Southeast High School, beginning with the 2007-2008 school year.  Liles joins Southeast with 19 years’ experience as an educator and administrator.  Prior to her new post, she most recently served as the principal for the new John Marshall High School.  Previously, she was principal and athletic director of Coyle High School in Oklahoma for three years, where she increased graduation rates, improved academic achievement and positively impacted at-risk students.  As athletic director, she led the Coyle Blue Jackets basketball team to the state’s Class A championship game and started an eight-man football team to offer students an additional outlet for extra-curricular activities.  Before that, she served as assistant principal at Anadarko High School in Oklahoma, advising state officers of the school’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter and leading them to a state champion finish.   Liles completed a two-year principal leadership academy with the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration, attended the Great Expectations methodology course and has presented at the High Schools That Works national conference on best practices in advisory programs.  Liles began her career as a business and computer technology educator, and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and master’s in business administration with a concentration in business education. 

 

Further announced was Dr. Cedrick Gray being named the new Executive Director of Student Performance and principal leader of Douglass High School, beginning July 3, 2007.  Prior to his appointment with Oklahoma City Public Schools, Gray served as principal of Craigmont Middle School in Memphis, TN, where he led the academic performance of more than 1,100 students, maintained a safe and nurturing learning environment and was a member of the superintendent’s professional development cabinet.  Prior to that, he was an adjunct professor for Union University and an assistant principal at White Station Middle School, a high-performing college preparatory learning community in Memphis that is recognized for its academic excellence.  He began his career as an educator at Crump Elementary and Douglass Elementary Schools in Memphis.  In 2004, Dr. Gray was honored with the Assistant Principal of the Year Trailblazers Award, and is frequently called upon by numerous educators to provide leadership, mentoring and professional development for learning communities.  This year, he was a nominated for the 2007 Principal of the Year Award by his principal colleagues.  Dr. Gray earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Memphis and his doctorate from Union University.  Gray replaces the retiring Ms. Cooks who has given years of dedicated service to the children of Oklahoma City Public Schools.