July 22nd, 2015 by WCBC Radio

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. David Cox, recently announced several administrative staffing changes for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year.  Additionally, an administrative staff pilot program utilizing Academic Deans, which was implemented at Fort Hill several years ago will now be expanded to include Allegany and Mountain Ridge High Schools next year.  All Academic Deans will report not only to the school principal, but also to the Chief Academic Officer.

               “We are excited to expand the pilot of academic deans to all of our high schools in order to provide more focused instructional leadership and support to our teachers and students,” said Dr. Cox. “I am also happy for the opportunity to provide our next generation of building and district instructional leaders with broader experiences for their professional growth.”

            Allegany High School will welcome Kelly Cassell, who has served most recently as the Assistant Principal at Mountain Ridge, as the Academic Dean. She will replace Dr. Ray Kiddy, who retired from his role as assistant principal last year.  Kelly began her career in ACPS in 1999 as a social studies teacher at Washington and Westmar Middle Schools and Fort Hill High School.  She has also served as the Administrative Assistant and Assistant Principal at Braddock Middle School before becoming Assistant Principal at Mountain Ridge in 2013.  According to Ms. Cassell, “While I have enjoyed my time at Mountain Ridge, I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with and serve the Allegany High School community.”

               Stephanie Wesolowski will begin her tenure with Allegany County Public Schools as the new Academic Dean at Mountain Ridge High School, filling the vacancy left by Ms. Cassell’s move to Allegany.  Stephanie comes to Allegany County from Charles County where she most recently served as an adjunct professor at McDaniel College, the Administrative Supervisor for McDaniel College Administrative Interns in CCPS, and as the principal of Theodore G. Davis Middle School. She has also held positions as principal, vice-principal, administrative assistant, and social studies teacher.  Mrs. Wesolowski earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Maryland and completed additional educational administrative coursework at Trinity College.

            “Mountain Ridge High School is a special place to work and learn and has a distinguished reputation for educational excellence,” said Wesolowski.  “This reputation for excellence is a direct result of the dedicated commitment of our school staff and school community. I am very excited to be appointed to the Academic Dean position at Mountain Ridge and looking forward to working with the dedicated staff, students, parents and school community as we continue to develop a College & Career Ready Culture that supports each student’s academic potential and future goals.”  She went on to say, “I plan to embrace excellence by staying focused on the state standards of teaching and learning, personal responsibility and student engagement at distinguished levels.”

               Additional Assistant Principal appointments are as follows:  Richard King, current AP at Fort Hill, will move to the Career Center; William Payne, current AP at the Career Center, will move to Braddock Middle; and Glenn Rice, current AP at Braddock, will move to Fort Hill.  Katie Buskirk will remain in her position as Academic Dean at Fort Hill High School. 

Richard King earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Frostburg State University.  He began his tenure in Allegany County as a special education teacher at Washington Middle School, Eckhart Alternative School, and the Career Center in 1997.  He has also held positions as coordinating teacher and assistant principal at various schools in the system.  According to Candy Canan, principal at the Career Center, “I am excited about the opportunity to include Mr. King as a member of the CCTE team.  His administrative experience and leadership will be a true asset to moving our school forward.”

William Payne also received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from FSU.  He began teaching in ACPS in 1977 in Corriganville.  Mr. Payne also taught at Cash Valley Elementary School as well as Beall High School before becoming the assistant principal at the former Westmar High School where he remained until 2005.  Since then, William has served as the assistant principal at the Career Center until his most recent assignment as assistant princiapal at Braddock Middle School.

            Glenn Rice began his career with ACPS in 1997 at South Penn Elementary School.  He also held positions at Washington Middle School as a science teacher, a coordinating teacher, and an administrative assistant and most recently at Braddock Middle School as first an administrative assistant and then the assistant principal.  When asked how he felt about his reassignment as Assistant Principal at Fort Hill, Rice said, "It is exciting to return to Fort Hill as an administrator after coaching baseball and both girls and boys basketball there for ten years. The school has always had tremendous school spirit, and I am looking forward to contributing to the leadership of the building."