Bay District Schools Announces Leadership Changes for the Upcoming Academic Year
Bay District Schools (BDS) is undergoing strategic leadership adjustments as it prepares for the upcoming academic year. Superintendent Mark McQueen has made a few administrative changes to bolster the district’s commitment to excellence and innovation in education.
Several schools will have new principals effective at the end of the current school year due to a combination of retirements, personal decisions and the Superintendent’s focus on making strategic decisions to “put the ‘A’ back in Bay.”
While noting that change can be challenging at times, Superintendent McQueen emphasized the importance of these adjustments. “As we continually strive for excellence in education, it is imperative that we evaluate and refine our leadership structures to align with our evolving goals and priorities. While these decisions are never easy, they are made with the best interests of our students and schools at heart,” he said.
The district is currently advertising for new principals for Jinks Middle School, Mowat Middle School and Merritt Brown Middle School. McQueen’s decision to non-renew the current principals created these vacancies. “We sincerely appreciate the many years of service these educational leaders have given to our district and our students,” McQueen said. “This was a difficult decision, but I want to go in a different direction with these three schools, so this was a necessary change.” McQueen noted he also anticipates a few changes in assistant principals at some schools as new principals are selected. “I want our principals to be able to build the very best leadership teams they can,” he explained. “They are under a lot of pressure, and I want to give them every available resource.”
At Tuesday’s School Board meeting, the Board also approved current Rutherford Middle School Principal Crystal Boyette as the new Turnaround Principal for Cedar Grove Elementary and current Margaret L. Lewis Exceptional School Assistant Principal Crystal Hudson as the new MKL Principal. Hudson will replace MKL Principal Lori Hast after she retires later this year. Boyette will be taking over Cedar Grove from the current principal Cynthia Walker, who made the difficult decision to go in a different direction with her career.
These changes are part of a broader strategy to ensure BDS remains at the forefront of educational innovation and student success. McQueen highlighted the district’s dedication to providing all students with a supportive and dynamic learning environment. “Our commitment to excellence remains unwavering. These changes enable us to enhance our educational offerings further and provide the resources necessary for our students to thrive academically and personally,” he added.
BDS acknowledges the dedication and contributions of all its administrators, past and present, in shaping the district’s educational landscape. As it moves forward into the new academic year, the district remains focused on fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, and continuous improvement.
