Two Tacoma Public Schools administrators – one new to the district – get new leadership roles as Superintendent-Elect (Interim) Carla Santorno begins to refocus the organization around her priorities of innovation and academic achievement.
Santorno appointed Toni Pace as the Assistant Superintendent of K-12 Support. Pace had served in that role on an interim basis since the departure of the previous assistant superintendent, Rosanne Fulton, who resigned in the fall.
“I feel honored to be selected to continue the work I’ve been doing since November to help the district achieve the board’s goals regarding academic achievement and student success,” Pace said. “A key element in that success is the support we can and will provide in the schools for principals and teachers. It’s also a special opportunity for me, personally, to be able to work with Carla Santorno and the entire school community.”
Pace has worked for Tacoma Public Schools for three years – most recently as director of high schools, supervising principals at all Tacoma high schools. Pace began her professional career as a high school English teacher in Oregon in 1976, then moved to the Kent and Highline school districts where she promoted from instructor into progressively higher leadership roles, finally as principal at Highline’s Mount Rainier High School.
Gregory King will take over as principal at Bryant Montessori later this month, pending School Board approval Feb. 10. King has experience leading the Lowell Elementary School in Seattle, which offers an accelerated learning program that challenges students with curriculum two years ahead of their peers.
King earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University in 1991 and his Masters of Education from Prairie View A&M in 1995. Among his various educational positions, King served in two large school districts – Houston and Atlanta – before taking over as a principal in the Seattle School District in 2008.
King replaces Principal Claudia Mason. Interim Principal Connie Wick has served at Bryant for the last two months.
Expect more administrative changes. The district already has begun taking applications for the Deputy Superintendent position vacated by Santorno. Next, the district will recruit for a High School Director. Pace previously served in that role, and Jay Reifel currently serves as the acting high school director.