nice way of saying "you're fired" without actually coming out and saying it.
The Columbia County school system announced Friday that Grovetown Middle School Principal Carolyn Fries is retiring. Penny Jackson, who was named as principal of Grovetown High School in March, will serve as interim principal at Grovetown Middle.
"We had some issue and concerns that we were working through with her immediate supervisor, Dr. Lauren Williams," Superintendent Charles Nagle said of Ms. Fries.
He said Dr. Williams, the associate superintendent of student learning, ultimately brought her concerns to him and that he sat down with Ms. Fries last week to discuss her future.
"A lot of things that we're working through are personnel issues," Mr. Nagle said.
He did not elaborate further about the concerns. He said he did not know whether the school system would file a report with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
Reached by telephone, Ms. Fries said she expected her retirement to go into effect "immediately."
She said she decided to retire now because her first grandchild was born with a serious heart condition. She said her 8-month-old grandson, who lives in Las Vegas, has had three open heart surgeries.
"I just felt that it was probably time for me to go out there and help my family," Ms. Fries said.
The 32-year educator served in the Columbia County school system for 10 years. She began her career here as an assistant principal at Harlem Middle School.
She said she had just started her seventh year as the Grovetown Middle principal.
"I truly, truly love the Grovetown community," Ms. Fries said. "The students that are there, the teachers that are there, do an exceptional job."
Mr. Nagle said the school system sent a letter about the personnel changes home with Grovetown Middle parents Friday.
Mr. Nagle said that Ms. Jackson, a Greenbrier High School assistant principal, will assume her interim position Monday.
"Penny gives us an opportunity not to have to rush to advertise and hire someone," Mr. Nagle said. "She knows the system."
He said that Ms. Jackson still will become the principal at Grovetown High, which is scheduled to open on Chamblin Road in August.
"All of those eighth-graders (at Grovetown Middle) will be her students at Grovetown High School. This would create a great opportunity for her to start in that community," Mr. Nagle said.
Reach Betsy Gilliland at (706) 868-1222, ext. 113, or betsy.gilliland@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
nice way of saying "you're fired" without actually coming out and saying it.
I've heard from teachers that work at GMS that Mrs. Fries is "crazy". **eta: you may think it's a terrible thing to say, but it's what I have heard straight out of GMS teacher's mouths.
KUDOS to Mr. Nagle for having the good judgement and the guts to stand up for the interests of the children of Grovetown and the staff of our middle school there!
Bone, that's what it sounds like to me...a huge sugar-coating job!!
I think the CCBOE made the correct decisions about 9 years late and I will just leave it at that.
still have the football coach at LHS with a job though, so CCBOE is only 1 for 2.
Ironically, your comment makes it painfully obvious you have no direct or current connection with the current LHS football family. As an outsider pointing in with ridicule and negativity - you motivate those of us who know Grooms best to stand by and behind him even more. Thanks for the added motivation. Thank you CCBOE for getting it right! Regardless if everyone understands or agrees, the true benefactors are the kids! Grooms has taken his lumps, served his sentence and it is now time for everyone to move forward.
gee, martinez, you're certainly a very forgiving soul. i wish i could think of a reason to agree with you about coach grooms. he certainly has staunch supporters and that is a testament to something positive.
Hey, if you don't mind your child being taught and trained to cheat, that's up to you! I'm glad mine doesn't go there, because he would NOT be playing football anymore if he did.
my son is high functioning autistic and was in the special needs program for 3 years he is 14 now and in Harlem high special needs program, having the best time of his life... when he was 11 she had him thrown in the back of a police car and hauled off to jail for one of his out burst. he is a kind loving child and actually a hug would have solved the whole problem..what does this tell you...
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