Wednesday, February 09, 2000
Mason keeps principal
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
MASON — Interim Principal Amy Spicher will soon drop the interim from her title.
The Mason Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously voted to name Mrs. Spicher principal of Mason High School effective Aug. 1. She was given a two-year contract, and her salary will be determined this spring. Mrs. Spicher now earns $72,147 a year.
“When we sat back and evaluated the job Amy had done through the crisis this year and the challenges she faced as we made plans for the new high school, we felt there would be no point to look any further,” said Marianne Culbertson, president of the Mason Board of Education. “We felt strongly that she would make a wonderful principal.”
Mrs. Spicher was named interim principal Oct. 31 after Chuck Mason left to become principal at Sycamore High School.
Eight days later, the school received a detailed letter threatening a bomb would go off. Schools were shut down for two days while police searched the building and determined an inmate had written the letter. In December, a bomb threat was left on the school's voice mail.
Mrs. Spicher also provided leadership as the high school began a new trimester schedule and has been working on schematic designs for the new high school to be built if voters approve a bond issue March 7.
“In the classroom, Amy was a master teacher, and her strength in curriculum, instruction, staff development and use of data should help us not only design a high school for the future, but her instructional leadership should assist us as we hire younger teachers into the building,” said Superintendent Kevin Bright.
A 19-year veteran of the Mason system, Mrs. Spicher is in her second year as associate principal, and her fifth year as an administrator at the high school.
She worked as a high school teacher, social studies department head and assistant principal before being named interim principal. Mrs. Spicher also chaired the scheduling committee and planned the Prime Time Wednesday staff development programs.
“This will provide some continuity in moving to the new school,” said Connie Yingling, board member.
A survey of the high school staff showed support for Mrs. Spicher, so the board decided not to solicit any other applications for the position as originally planned last fall, Mrs. Culbertson said.
“We felt it was a wonderful match all around. Once again, we've been fortunate,” Mrs. Culbertson said. “We're very, very fortunate.”
Mrs. Spicher holds degrees from Vanderbilt and Xavier universities.
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