Students at Oxford Middle School will have a new ? and much taller ? principal to look up to this fall.
Ken Weaver will be transferring from his position as assistant principal at the high school to being the head honcho after Karen Sage’s retirement at the middle school.
Weaver has been the assistant principal at OHS for three years. He served as assistant principal for two years at Sturgis Middle School near Kalamazoo.
Dealing with both age levels, he’s found it interesting to compare the differences between the two.
‘High schoolers ? it sometimes seems you gotta get them fired up about things, and the middle schoolers you gotta keep them calmer,? he said. ‘But they’re awesome and I’m really looking forward to it.?
Weaver spoke to the incoming sixth graders at their orientation hoping to ease their worries about their new environment.
‘I just said ‘I’m big, I look kind of mean and I’m kind of bald, but don’t worry, I’m friendly and I’m new too,?? he joked. In his first year at OMS Weaver said he plans on getting to know the staff and students better.
‘I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about the staff, the students, everything,? he said.
He also will be planning on tackling the issue of the new high school graduation requirements and how the middle school curriculum will need to change.
He said it’s his job to prepare the kids well for high school and give them a good foundation to start from.
‘My experience as an assistant principal has proven that if they aren’t successful at the middle school level, then very rarely are they able to turn it around and be successful at the high school level,? he said.
With the evolving role of the principal, going from a strict, unapproachable position in the 1950s to the more personable role of today, Weaver said he’s become more patient and knows more about the different facets of running a school. ‘It is a huge job because you’re involved with discipline, curriculum, field trips, the calendar, teacher in-services,? he said. ‘I mean you have your hand in everything now.?