Document text
Frazier to take helm at South Medford Wednesday Jun 21, 2017 at 5:11 PM Jun 21, 2017 at 5:19 PM Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune @teresathomas_MT South Medford High School Assistant Principal Donnie Frazier will become interim principal in August, and two veteran elementary principals will be moved to new buildings, the Medford School District announced. Lone Pine Elementary's Kristi Anderson will move to Roosevelt Elementary, and Wilson Elementary's Gerry Flock will move to Lone Pine. Frazier has been with South Medford for 20 years, six years as counselor and 14 as assistant principal. Prior to his time at South, Frazier was a middle school math and science teacher for 10 years in central California. Principal Damian Crowson resigned in late May to take a director job in the Eagle Point School District. He wraps up his contract with the Medford School District next week. The hiring process typically begins in March and takes about two months to complete, “so due to the late opening of the position, hiring an interim is the most prudent option,” Superintendent Brian Shumate said in a news release. The district will make an assessment next winter to decide how to proceed, the announcement said. Frazier said he was informed this week that he had been promoted to interim principal. “I’m excited,” he said. “Obviously, it’s a big job and a different role ... but I’m excited about the challenge and looking forward to it.” Frazier said he plans to spend the next school year building pathways and supporting the district’s vision and the board’s goals. “We’re here to do the right thing for kids, help them be successful and move on to the next phase of their life,” he said. Frazier’s first day as principal will be Aug. 1, and he said his first task will be to hire an interim assistant principal. Anderson, who has been at the helm of Lone Pine for 12 years, will replace Roosevelt's Isis Contreras, who was placed on administrative leave in April. Contreras returned to work in May and recently resigned to take a new administrative position in California. Flock has been principal of Wilson Elementary for seven years. The district plans to hire a new principal for Wilson “as soon as possible," said district spokeswoman Natalie Hurd. “Gerry and Kristi are two outstanding principals who provide valuable leadership,” said Hurd. “This change will provide growth in their own work, and they can share their leadership, ideas and experience with another staff." — Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected]. Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt.