Somewhat lost amid the shuffle of getting traditional-calendar schools open is that there’s been turnover in the magnet programs office.

Last week, Ken Branch transferred from senior director of magnet programs to the vacant position of senior director for secondary education programs. He’s now overseeing high school instruction.

No replacement has been named for Branch yet. Fresh off the school board’s decision to demagnetize four schools, the new director will help with the process of identifying which schools should receive programs.

08/30/07 at 09:36
A excellent opportunity to save the taxpayers some money. Just eliminate the position and consolidate with another department. duh.....

08/30/07 at 09:47
What?! Decrease the size of the administration? This is the perfect opportunity to expand that job so that it requires too people so that those at the top look like they have more things to manage.

This is nothing to do with the schools, it is the way of all things, public and private. The middle management glut is not a school admin problem, it is just the way things have become.

08/30/07 at 12:37
I'm not sure what is meant by this change being "lost in the shuffle", but WCPSS did announce this change in its Morning Announcements dated August 22 posted below.


"Board Names New Administrators
At its August 21 meeting, the Board of Education named two educators to lead Wake County high school instruction.

Ken Branch was named Senior Director for Secondary Education Programs. Dr. Branch has served as Senior Director for Magnet Programs since 2006. Prior to that, he was principal of Centennial Campus Middle School, Lynn Road Elementary, Zebulon Middle and assistant principal at Carnage Middle. He also worked as an assistant principal and teacher in other NC school districts.

Ruth Steidinger was named Director for Secondary Education Programs. Steidinger has served as Director of Literacy since 2003. Prior to that, she was principal of Dillard Drive Elementary, assistant principal at Apex High and a teacher at Athens Drive High. "

08/30/07 at 13:07
CF - Thank you. Most of us don't have access to the "insider" information like you are able to provide.

08/30/07 at 13:36
Looks as though Mr. Branch has no "secondary" education experience. It's all in administration or at the middle'elementary school levels. How fitting.

08/30/07 at 14:51
UR,
I didn't realize you were so deprived of access to information.

Grab a pencil.
Now write down: www.wcpss.net

EVERY morning, on the cover page of this website is a posting called "Morning Announcements." They are archived too. It may require some effort on your part for which you are not capable, but if you try , you may feel like an "insider" .

08/31/07 at 11:15
CF, I've always thought you might have inside info as well. You seem to come up with a lot of insider details. Am I wrong? What are your connections, really?

08/31/07 at 11:30
Someone told me that magnet schools in New York have entrance exams. Why not have similar approach here?
Let's everyone but non-base students compete for magnet spots. Today's lottery process is really unfair. If kids live in the same subdivision but belong to different schools, they have differenr chances of getting into Magnet schools.

I know, I know... This approach will interfere with great social engineering and WCPSS knows better where our kids should go...

08/31/07 at 16:42
Caroline,

What do you mean by "insider details?" Give me an example.

If reading the cover page and links of the wcpss.website makes me an insider, if going to Community engagement meetings makes me an insider, if voulnteering in my childrens schools and for the PTA makes me an insider, then I am guilty as charged. Oh yeh, I have been to school board meetings on occassion and watch them on a delayed basis if there is something that interests me from the agenda that is posted on the website.