Some upset with WHS principal selection process

WASILLA — The Mat-Su Borough School District superintendent’s decision to ignore the recommendations of Wasilla High School staff and community members to hire Wasilla High Sschool Assistant Principal Mark Okeson to replace retiring Principal Dwight Probasco has sparked anger and frustration in that community.

Superintendent Kenneth Burnley decided to transfer Wasilla Middle School Principal Amy Spargo into that position instead — to the chagrin of more than 100 staff and community members who signed a petition against the way the decision was made.

Although Burnley didn’t disclose reasons for his decision during a Wednesday Mat-Su Board of Education meeting at Palmer High, he said he did not violate any district policies by transferring Spargo and not going with the selection committee’s choice.

“It’s important for people to understand we have a policy in place and we have followed our regulations to the letter,” Burnley explained before hearing from angry teachers, a Union leader and a parent who felt Okeson was the best candidate for the job. “I’ve been hearing all kinds of rumors about my plans. There were none, except for the following criteria that was used to make a selection.”

Burnley said he was looking for a candidate who could not only provide strong instructional leadership and managerial skills, but who also had highly developed personal skills.

Spargo fits all three, he said.

“Amy Spargo is the leader of the principals’ group and she’s no stranger to our community,” Burnley said. “She’s one of the best middle school principals, if not our best. She moves instruction in wonderful ways. I’m very delighted to recommend Miss Spargo.”

Spargo told those gathered she was excited for the opportunity to continue to serve her community and to follow students she’s already come to know at Wasilla Middle School.

“The kids are my highest priority and I’ll continue at Wasilla High with that in mind,” she said.

But Mat-Su Education Association President Jill Showman was not so pleased.

Showman told the board that MSEA and certified staff overwhelmingly voted “no confidence” about the process. She said they are not protesting the person who was selected, only the process used to make the selection.

“They feel it’s not consistent with current policy in terms of hires and with past practices as there were no school board members on that interview committee,” Showman said before sharing several comments staff members asked her to share with the board.

One of them expressed frustration over not hearing anything from Burnley for three weeks after the selection committee made its recommendation.

“During this entire time, Wasilla High staff was in the dark and didn’t know what was happening with the situation,” Showman read. “They feel the voices of the staff and the voices of community members were disregarded.”

Others wondered how much time administrators and school board members actually spent at Wasilla High.

“They would have seen just a tidbit of how amazing the school is if they’d come in during orientation during the first few days of school,” Showman shared before submitting a petition containing six pages of signatures.

WHS science teacher Faith Brunnhoelzl echoed those sentiments, telling the board she hasn’t talked to one fellow teacher who is not happy there.

“The staff is very concerned and very displeased with the entire process of how a new principal was hired,” said Brunnhoelzl, who has taught in the district for 17 years and has known Okeson for at least 30 years. “The interview committee chose a well-qualified, very respectful candidate and passed that name on to the superintendent, and that was ignored. I don’t understand how a well-qualified candidate was even passed on to the committee in the first place if they were deemed not qualified.”

Reached by phone Thursday, Okeson said the announcement was a curveball, but he’s trying not to make any rash decisions about his future.

Having been with the district for the past 21 years, first as a language arts teacher at Houston High, then as a teacher and coach at Colony High before serving as assistant principal there for five years, and at WHS for the past 10 years, he’s just trying to take it all in.

“I was told I was not ready yet,” he said of the principal slot. “I was pretty confident that this wasn’t a major leap from what I can do. Fifteen years (as assistant principal). What else to be ready?”

Okeson said Probasco wrote a nice reference letter for him to include in his application for the job. He said he’s comforted by all the support he’s gotten from staff and community members.

“I’m both very impressed while at the same time very ashamed,” he said of the petition. “I think it’s quite a testament that some people I’ve worked with over the years have a certain confidence in me.”

As for Spargo, Okeson said he has always liked and respected her and feels she’d be great to work with, although he’s not certain he will stay at WHS.

“I don’t know if I have many options, to tell you the truth. If I have the option, I may just continue where I’m at,” he said. “Honest work is good work. It’s rewarding work. It’s hard work. That’s probably the strongest possibility.”

Spargo said during a break in the board meeting she understands why there’s so much emotion about the issue, but feels the community will embrace her soon enough.

“I think a lot of it is going to shake out. They’ll know I really care about them and the school and the kids,” she said, adding she agrees with Burnley that district policy was followed in her selection. “It was disappointing the candidate who was moved forward wasn’t selected.”

Contact K.T. McKee at kate.mckee@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.