As the start of school quickly approaches, new Lake Orion Superintendent Kenneth Gutman has been busy filling positions on his administration team.
Previously, The Review reported on the filling of the assistant superintendent, director of special education and three elementary principal positions (Paint Creek, Blanche Sims and Carpenter).
As of last week’s board meeting, individuals have been hired to fill the positions of executive director of human resources, supervisor of Learning Options High School, principal and assistant principal at Waldon Middle School and supervisor of special education, albeit some at the interim level.
The new director of human resources is Patricia Murray, who for the last three years served as assistant superintendent for the Albion Public Schools where she oversaw curriculum and instruction, as well as human resources.
Previous to that position, Murray worked for 22 years in the Detroit Public Schools as a teacher and administrator, and she is also an adjunct professor for Wayne County Community College.
‘Pat brings wither tremendous experience and ability,? Gutman said, noting she will really be able to ‘revolutionize what (Lake Orion Schools) does in human resources.?
The team of Randall Groya, Jr. and Sarah Perry will serve as the interim principal and interim assistant principal at Waldon Middle School, respectively.
Groya has been with Lake Orion since 2006, serving as the assistant principal at Waldon, and worked previously in Troy and Bay City schools. Perry has been teaching Spanish at Lake Orion High School since 2000, and, according to Gutman, in her time in Lake Orion, she was also in the capacity of assistant principal at Lake Orion High School at one point.
‘They will be a great team,? he said of Groya and Perry. ‘The staff and students will be greatly served by them.?
Scripps Middle School Counselor Lori Whitfield will serve in the new position of Learning Options High School supervisor. She has been employed with Lake Orion since 2000, and prior to that, worked as a teacher in an alternative school in California.
Gutman described Whitfield as someone who ‘has a passion for the alternative education program.?
According to Gutman, Courtney Larsen has been hired as the new supervisor of special education, a position she filled last year with the ‘interim? tag.
‘She has great knowledge of special education and will be a good fit in that department,? he added.
Gutman said a candidate has also been selected to fill the newly vacated assistant principal position at Oakview Middle School, and that decision will come before the school board at their Aug. 27 meeting, before being finalized and announced.
‘I’m very happy to have all those administrative positions filled,? Gutman added, noting the team ‘gels? well together and he is looking forward to all of the teamwork it will bring.