Four Summit HS principal candidates meet public

Four educators hoping to become Summit High School’s next principal spoke at a public forum Monday evening. Each got to say why they should succeed the current principal, Alice DeWittie, who is retiring.

The candidates are: Michael Hicks, Zachary Lauritzen, Michael McDonald and Bradley Shreve.

Bend-La Pine Schools Dean of Students Reno Holler said, “You’re always looking for someone who loves kids, that loves the school setting, loves coming to work, and someone that has a bit of a child in them.”

All of the candidates have prior education experience.

Hicks is currently the assistant principal at Bend Senior High School and ormerly served as the assistant principal at Monte Vista High School in California. He said he believes people are always better doing things together than alone.

“Gone are the days where teachers report to school and stay in classrooms and come out at the end of the day and leave,” Hicks said. “This work we do together is something that takes teaming, and it takes communication.”

Lauritzen is currently the assistant principal at Willamette High School in Eugene. Before that, he was a special assignment teacher in Corvallis. He said he believes you need to care about the student experience.

“I believe every kid wants to succeed, and it’s our job as the adults in the room, as the educators, to understand their story, and to listen, to hear, and meet them where they need to be met,” Lauritzen said.

McDonald has been the assistant principal at Summit for 14 years. He also has 13 years of classroom teaching experience. He said he believes students and people in general are constantly growing.

“This is where we generate creativity,” McDonald said. “This is where we tinker with learning and growth, and we are constantly in this practice.”

Bradley Shreve has served as principal for the past six years at Lebanon High School. He’s also held three other assistant principal positions and has 10 years of classroom teaching experience.

He said he wants students and the community to interact through things like internships.

“Let’s interact with the businesses,” Shreve said. “One of the things we’ve been doing with the Chamber of Commerce in Lebanon (is that) and we have done different grade opportunities directly with CTE (Career Technical Education) programs and indirectly through CTE programs.”

All of the finalists had to submit a written application, meet one on one with the superintendent, evaluate a teacher in a classroom setting, complete committee and student interviews, and also answer questions from the public.

The superintendent has the final choice on who will become principal, starting July 1.