Superintendent Carla Santorno today announced new principal assignments for the 2012-2013 school year, basing the assignment decisions on the best match between each principal’s strengths and an assessment of each school’s needs.
New assignments include:
Birney Elementary School
- Principal James Neil, who transfers as assistant principal from Manitou Park Elementary School
Whittier Elementary School
- Principal Donna Basil, who transfers as assistant principal from Giaudrone Middle School
“We have several assistant principals who we feel are ready for principal assignments,” Santorno said previously.
Two Tacoma Public Schools administrators get new leadership roles as Superintendent Santorno begins to refocus the organization around her priorities of innovation and academic achievement.
Santorno appointed Christine Hinds and Dan Tharp as directors of elementary education. Tharp has worked for Tacoma Public Schools for more than 10 years – most recently as principal of Whittier Elementary School.
Tharp began his professional career as a teacher at Custer Elementary School in 1979, and served as administrative assistant to the superintendent and also as elementary school principal for Park Lodge and Parkway elementary schools for the Clover Park School District.
After his positions in the Clover Park School District, Tharp worked as the elementary school principal for the Olympia School District. He began working for the Tacoma Public Schools in July 2002. Tharp was principal at Manitou Park Elementary School for three years and then promoted to the director of elementary education position, supervising 14 elementary school principals and early education programs. Due to restructuring at the central administration offices, Tharp was assigned as principal at McCarver Elementary School. In 2009, Tharp was assigned to Whittier Elementary School as principal.
Tharp earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Central Washington State College and his Master of Arts degree at Central Washington University in educational administration.
Hinds has worked for Tacoma Public Schools for seven years–most recently as principal of Birney Elementary School.
Hinds previously served as principal at Reed Elementary School for five years. Hinds graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1975. She earned her Master of Arts degree from Pacific Lutheran University in Educational Administration in 1985. She was also recognized as the National Distinguished Principal for the Tacoma region in 2011.
Hinds began her professional career as a principal at Burton and Chautauqua elementary schools for the Vashon Island School District and then principal at Evergreen Elementary School for the Clover Park School District before serving as principal at Reed Elementary School for the Tacoma Public Schools in 2004.
In their new roles, Tharp and Hinds will join Patrick Johnson, current elementary education director, and will supervise 35 elementary schools and early education programs.
The district is interviewing for the human resources assistant superintendent position vacated by Laurie Taylor, who is retiring. The district also is interviewing for the principal position at Lowell Elementary School.