PHS Assistant Principal Karyn Shipp and PMS Assistant Principal Eric Mapes will be switching faculty positions for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year.
Shipp will become the assistant principal at Piedmont Middle School. She currently manages the PHS master schedule, 504 Plans, works as liaison with the special education department and MHS, as well as handles all of assistant principal Anne Dolid’s duties while she is on leave. Shipp’s new job position at PMS has very similar duties. However, while PHS has two assistant principals, PMS has one.
Shipp has worked at PHS for 16 years. At the high school, Shipp has coached soccer, has been the athletic director for ten years, and has since become assistant principal.
Shipp said superintendent Constance Hubbard came to her with the idea of the switch.
“There are already new administrators,” Shipp said. “Both principals at both sites. I think the switch made sense for that.”
Shipp said that she is excited for something new and will have fresh views and visions.
“Here, where I feel like I know things so well, sometimes it is hard to look at things with a fresh set of eyes,” Shipp said.
Shipp said that the Middle school is more structured.
“They are younger,” Shipp said. “They do not drive yet. They do not have a lot of responsibility yet. There is still a lot more parent involvement.”
Shipp said that Mapes will bring a new perspective to the high school.
“He may see where the transition from middle school to high school, where maybe we could do more for the ninth graders or different for the ninth graders,” Shipp said. “And same for me, vice versa, I may be able to find something, as well. We have always seen struggles with the older kids. I think that for both of us we might be able to bring the two schools together with collaboration because I know the staff here and he knows the staff down there so it might be easier for us to get the two schools connected.”
Currently, at the middle school, Mapes is in charge of discipline, online and walk-through registrations, the GATE program, ASB, and assisting the principal.
Mapes said that the current plan is that he will take on the role of what PHS assistant principal Anne Dolid has this school year, while Dolid will take on Shipp’s position.
“That is the plan,” Mapes said, “Mr. Daniels is the boss. If he has a change of heart and wants to do something different, I am fully supportive of the leader of the school.”
Mapes worked as a teacher 15 years, working in Albany, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Beijing. Mapes has taught science, math, third grade, seventh grade, eighth grade, and worked as a multicultural professor. PHS will be the first high school Mapes will have worked at.
Because Mapes has worked at the middle school for two years, this upcoming school year he will already know the students of the freshman and sophomore classes.
“I worked really closely with Ms. Shipp within the last two years, so we will be relying on each other a lot,” Mapes said. “It is a good time for it to happen. I have been wanting to do more at the high school, and she has been wanting to do more at the middle school. Ms. Shipp will bring down a lot of high school ideas and philosophies, and I will bring up a lot of the middle school’s.”
Mapes also said there is going to be a learning curve.
“I appreciate feedback, whether it is positive or constructive,” “I am not afraid to admit my mistakes,” Mapes said.
Mapes said he believes that education is collaborative.
“It is never a bad day when you work at a school,” Mapes said. “I like to have fun. I enjoy what I do. You will see me laughing. My door is always open. I don’t want people to be afraid when they see me in the hallway.”
Shipp said that while she will miss PHS, she is excited for the opportunities that await her.
“I am sad to leave here,” Shipp said. “I have loved Piedmont High School. It is my home. But it is also the district, and the district is my home. I just hope I continue to provide support to parents, and students, and faculty members ongoing, just with a new age group.”
