|
|
|
|
All News & Blogs
E-mail Alerts
Spotsylvania hires insider as its next superintendent.
BakerVisit the Photo Place |
By PAMELA GOULD
The Spotsylvania County School Board on Monday named Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Scott Baker the division's next superintendent.
Baker, 43, will succeed Shelley K. Redinger, who leaves at the end of the school year to become superintendent of Spokane, Wash., public schools.
Redinger hired Baker last July. He was one of two top-level hires Redinger made after being chosen as Spotsylvania's superintendent last year.
This will be Baker's first superintendent position. However, board members Amanda Blalock and Linda Wieland, who co-chaired the superintendent search committee, said no one on the board had any concerns about that.
"He has worked side by side with Dr. Redinger and has proven he has the skills," Blalock said.
Board member Gil Seaux echoed that.
"This was not something given to you but earned," Seaux said.
Redinger came to Spotsylvania with four years of experience overseeing the 4,200-student Oregon Trail School District near Portland.
Baker, who was born in Roanoke, has two decades of experience in education, all in Virginia.
He came to Spotsylvania from Hanover County public schools, where he spent four years as the director of curriculum and instruction for kindergarten through grade 12.
Before that, he worked as principal of Hanover's Chickahominy Middle School from 2003-07. He served as assistant principal of Lee-Davis High School there from 2000-03.
But Baker was no stranger to Spotsylvania when he was hired by Redinger.
He spent three years with the division before leaving for Hanover County, where he and his family still live.
Baker started at Spotsylvania High School in August 1998 as an administrative intern and theater arts teacher. He spent the next year there as a full-time administrative intern. He spent his third year as assistant principal of what was then John J. Wright Middle School.
Board member Ray Lora said Monday night that it was a pleasure to have watched Baker grow through his career and that his next role makes for an exciting time for the county.
Lora noted that Baker should not consider that he is "replacing Redinger" but that he has an opportunity to "blaze a trail."
Board members repeated one phrase Monday night as they commented on Baker's selection.
They called him "a perfect match."
|
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Scott Baker has spent 20 years in Virginia public schools. Here's is a summary of his experience and education:
DEGREES: Radford University, bachelor of science in English with a theater minor, May 1991.
University of Virginia, special education K-12 teaching endorsement, August 1995. Virginia Commonwealth University, master of education in K-12 administration and supervision, August 2000. University of Virginia, doctor of education in administration and supervision, May 2010. EXPERIENCE: Arlington County, Williamsburg Middle School, autistic integration facilitator, 1992-93.King William County, special education teacher, grades 4-8, 1993-94; high school English and theater arts teacher, 1994-97. Spotsylvania County, Spotsylvania High School, administrative intern/theater arts teacher, 1997-98; Spotsylvania High, administrative intern, 1998-99; John J. Wright Middle School, assistant principal, 1999-2000. Hanover County, high school assistant principal, 2000-03; middle school principal, 2003-07; division's director of curriculum and instruction for kindergarten through 12th grade, 2007-11. --Pamela Gould |