BRATTLEBORO — Come September, Brattleboro Union High School administrators Hannah Parker and Cassie Damkoehler will switch roles after an advertised search for a new principal failed - and caused some upset.
Following the second of four May 9 executive sessions, the Windham Southeast School District Board voted to appoint current Assistant Principal Parker as interim principal and current Interim Principal Damkoehler as assistant principal.
Current Interim Assistant Principal Traci Lane, who is filling in for Chris Day while he is on a two-year leave to serve on active duty with the National Guard, and Interim Dean of Students Chris Brewer will continue in those positions next school year.
The vote came after an April vote when the board approved the recommendation of a search committee selected by Superintendent Mark Speno to hire Tom Ronning, who had served as interim principal at Fall Mountain Regional High School in Langdon, New Hampshire, and had also been assistant principal there from 2001 to 2007.
However, Ronning had already taken a job in a different district by the time the board offered him the post here.
Speno spoke at the May 9 meeting, saying that “as we move forward with the BUHS school and leadership model,” he was recommending “reorganization of the administrative team,” which, he said, had been a collaborative effort.
“And that's how we will move forward with our collaborative leadership team,” Speno said. “I think the future is bright.”
Following the vote, board members applauded.
Not so easy
While the superintendent is ultimately in charge of bringing a candidate to the school board for approval, the process can, apparently, look different from district to district.
In the case of the BUHS principal search, a committee of administrators, staff members, students, and a parent was formed by Speno.
“I developed a process that included all stakeholders,” Speno said. “This led to a recommendation to the board. By the time the board was able to consider the recommendation, the candidate accepted a different position. Luckily for us, we have four dedicated administrators who now have a year of experience in place working with the school community.
“Over the course of three weeks, I worked collaboratively with the BUHS admin team and BUHS staff identifying strengths, challenges, and passions in reflecting on this school year and planning for the 2023-24 school year. The school board has been very supportive of this work, and we are excited to move forward collectively.”
That's not how all school directors saw it.
“The school board didn't have any part in the search process, though two members were on the search committee,” said board member Lana Dever.
“I and the other board members of color were rather blindsided when we found out that two board members had been chosen to serve on the committee without knowledge of the full board,” she said. “We can't do the broadest search if all stakeholders aren't included.”
The Commons has asked Speno to address and clarify Dever's public remarks, but he did not do so by press time.
Why the switch?
Damkoehler was known to be among the candidates interviewed, but no explanation of why the names of other candidates were not disclosed to the public has been forthcoming from the board or administration.
At one point in the process, Damkoehler withdrew her name. At the time, no explanation was given, but this week she told The Commons that she had “a variety of reasons” for withdrawing.
“I have three children at home, and I've worked a tremendous amount this year,” she said. “I also recognize that although I feel very positive about our leadership this year, I would like the opportunity to learn more and grow in the AP position.”
Damkoehler said that one of the most challenging parts of being interim principal “was the amount it takes me away from students.”
“We have created such a collaborative model of leadership that I fully trust we will stay on the positive trajectory we're on, regardless of titles,” she added.
In April, after Damkoehler withdrew her name from the possibilities, parent and search panel member Lisa Ford was quoted in a Reformer story as questioning the board and saying members exhibited a lack of urgency and “bias” in deciding whether to support the recommended hiring of Ronning.
At the meeting, Dever took issue, saying, “The accusation of bias in the principal hiring process from a member of the hiring committee is predicated upon the notion that my work and that of my fellow board members is unnecessary and in fact detrimental to the community. I would like to take this opportunity to respond directly.
“For the past year I have listened as accusations and conspiracy theories have run rampant - many making their way into the pages of our local paper and often with a consistent genesis. These words are not innocuous. They do what they are intended to do; they stir doubt and confusion, they divide and instill fear where there should be community and healthy discourse.
“Let me be clear: as a woman of color, these accusations cause harm. They make it difficult to do the job for which I was elected. They make me lose faith in my community, and they cause other women to question if being a public servant is worth their safety and mental well being.
“To accuse women of color of bias for not hiring a white man is either willfully ignorant or worse - knowingly weaponizing cultural and systemic racism. I will not sit by for either. I was elected to do a job that includes making tough decisions for the betterment of our schools and our future. I will not be bullied into anything less.”
The principal's hiring was precipitated by the firing of former Principal Steven Perrin, who is now appealing the board's decision in Superior Court.
Speno has said a new look at the hiring process and potential new search for a permanent principal will likely commence in the winter.