ORCSD School Board Press Release About the Interim HS Principal

This was not published in Foster's (yet?).  It was sent to me with a request to post it here.
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On Wednesday evening, June 8^th the Oyster River Cooperative School District School Board (ORCSD) unanimously confirmed the nomination by Superintendent Howard Colter of Todd Allen as the Interim Principal at Oyster River High School (ORHS). Currently the Assistant Principal of Oyster River Middle School (ORMS), Mr. Allen will begin his one year term on July 1, 2011. As a result, the ORCSD has suspended its principal search at this time. 

School Board Chair Henry Brackett commented, “The board is pleased to have confirmed Todd’s nomination.  We believe that selecting an internal candidate is in the district’s best interest. Todd knows the kids, he knows the parents and he has an established relationship with the district’s educators. We expect a smooth leadership transition and are pleased that the students will see a familiar face when they return to school in the fall. We look forward to continuing a long and distinguished relationship.”

Mr. Allen earned a Bachelor of Arts from University of Maine at Orono, a Masters in Education from Notre Dame College and expects to complete an Education Specialist in Administration and Supervision certification at the University of New Hampshire this spring.  Mr. Allen has been on staff at ORCSD for twenty-six years.  He joined the ORMS social studies department in 1985 and was promoted to Assistant Principal in 2008.

Throughout his tenure in the ORCSD, Mr. Allen has actively promoted educational excellence and physical well being in the district.  He co-chaired the K-12 social studies district curriculum revision and alignment with the New Hampshire Standards; he served on the Ad-Hoc District Committee to evaluate the Middle School program; he presented regularly at New England League of Middle Schools and Seacoast Educational Services on the topics of interdisciplinary curriculum, team teaching and effective coaching techniques; and served as ORMS Athletic Director, Cross Country Coach, and is a founder of Friends of Oyster River Track  (FORT). In addition, Mr. Allen is the Race Director of the highly successful Todd’s Trot 5K. Beginning and ending at ORHS, each year the race is held in the memory of OR graduate Peter Todd Heuchling, and from the proceeds an annual $5000 scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior. Mr. Allen himself has competed in over 30 marathons and has been instrumental in helping countless Oyster River students develop a lifelong love of running. He and his wife, Lisa, are the parents of two graduates of the ORCSD.

"We were very mindful of the thoughtful input of the ORHS faculty, staff, and students, and the citizens of the district and wanted to be responsive to their concerns," Chairman Brackett added. "I appreciate that selecting an internal candidate is almost unprecedented in our district.  We are very fortunate to have an educator of Todd Allen’s caliber to lead our high school going forward.”