WOODLAND PARK • The Woodland Park RE-2 School District Board of Education has hired Dr. Mathew Neal as its new superintendent.
The decision, made at the board s March 10 meeting, followed months of combing through applications and conducting interviews to find a successor for Steve Woolf, who agreed to a contract termination at the end of November after an incident involving his arrest for driving under the influence in August.
After announcing Neal’s finalist status, the board went into an executive session to discuss contract negotiations.
Neal currently serves as superintendent of the American Creativity Academy in Hawalli, Kuwait.
A native of Fort Collins, Neal earned a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Change from the University of Southern California, a master s from Colorado State University, and a bachelor s degree from Mississippi College.
DECATUR â Students in Decatur high schools will be able to graduate with both a diploma and an associate s degree thanks to a new agreement between Decatur Public Schools and Richland Community College.
The Prep Academy has been in the works for two years, said Superintendent Paul Fregeau. Beginning with the freshman class in August, the four-year program is available to Decatur students at no charge. Families must attend one of four online informational sessions:
11 a.m. Tuesday, March 23
6 p.m. Wednesday, March 24
11 a.m. Thursday, March 25
5 p.m. Thursday, March 25
Students must complete an application, provide required documents, a letter of recommendation from a staff member, and a five-paragraph essay at www.dps61.org/prepacademy no later than March 31. Families can also register for the information sessions at that address. Building recommendations of students will also be considered.
Teen of the Week - Rising
submitted
Educational or Future Plans:
After graduating from Alice High School, I plan on attending Texas A&M University-Kingsville where I will obtain my bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences. Furthering my education, I am determined to attend Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, getting into a PharmD program, and becoming a Pharmacist.
Clubs and Officer Positions:
Accomplishments/Honors:
In the Top 20 percent, 4 year member of the Alice High School Band, Dual Credit, and All A’s Student
What was the best advice you ever received?
The best advice I ever received was from my mom, “All you gotta do is do the work.” This advice has since driven me to stop procrastinating and do my work no matter how hard I think it is or how much I dread to do it.
Collaborative Clinical Experience and AP or Dual Credit Course.
The program is based on a competitive application process requiring a high degree of commitment, desire to work in an education career, excellent attendance and a 2.75 GPA to remain in the program, according to the press release.
âScholars who earn a seat in the program will have access to excellent mentor teachers, opportunities to observe in classrooms at elementary, middle and high school levels, preparation and support to successfully pass the PRAXIS Core exam,â the release said.
The release continued to state that the program will allow participants to leave high school with a solid foundation to successfully complete a college education in less time with less debt.