Brad Bigelow has been promoted to the position of Principal of Clear Lake Elementary. He leaves Oxford Middle School where he served as Assistant Principal for three years. He takes the place of Suzanne Hannant who re-retired after over thirty years of dedicated service with Oxford Community Schools.
Principal Bigelow has been on a fast pace in the Oxford Community School District since he joined ten years ago. Graduating from Arkansas? Harding University in 2002, he began with Oxford Schools that fall at Daniel Axford Elementary where he taught first grade for five years. Following that, he taught second grade for another two years before serving as Daniel Axford’s interim principal at the end of the 2008-2009 school year.
For the last three years, Bigelow has worked under Principal Ken Weaver at Oxford Middle School.
Weaver considers Bigelow a ‘great friend and someone he could always rely on to help the students at Oxford Middle School succeed.? Bigelow ‘will be a great leader?? at Clear Lake, Weaver believes, primarily because he’s ‘kid-centered and (because) he cares very deeply for the children.?
Superintendent William Skilling echoed Weaver’s assessment. ‘I would say he rose to the level of master teacher by the time he left Daniel Axford,? Skilling said. Bigelow has ‘taken a real interest in . . .using instructional technology in the classroom and effective implementation of technology to improve teaching and learning (is) one of the lead roles he’s going to take as a principal. He’s very comfortable and very astute in the use of technology (and we’re) looking forward to having him be a key leader in that area.?
Bigelow was grateful for the praise and promotion, but knows that he’s got some ‘huge shoes to fill.? Former Principal Hannant provided a ‘very positive role-model, and was a tremendous resource,? Bigelow said.
His first order of business as Principal of Clear Lake Elementary will be to ‘get to know his students, staff, and community.? Bigelow said he’ll be reaching out to the families of Clear Lake in the very near future, and that he hopes ‘through partnership and engagement to help kids be successful and to be prepared for the global community we’re heading into.?
One of the best things about receiving the promotion was telling his daughter, Bigelow shared. She starts kindergarten at Clear Lake this fall, so ‘our first day at Clear Lake will be together,? the proud father said.