Gaddis moves to Central Office [Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.]

July 20--The former principal of Cravens Elementary School in Owensboro has taken over a redesigned administrator's position that now includes oversight of several educational and after-school programs in addition to public relations.

Chris Gaddis took the new position in the Central Office of Owensboro Public Schools on July 1. Following the retirement of district spokeswoman Julie Ellis earlier this year, administrators revamped the position and rolled several other duties into it.

In addition to public relations, Gaddis is now in charge of overseeing migrant education, the grant-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers now in place at six schools in the district and will also be the liaison to the Owensboro Public Schools Foundation for Excellence.

"We had a lot of loose ends. We were able to combine some existing positions that were part-time positions into this full-time position Mr. Gaddis is in. It didn't cost us any additional dollars," said Owensboro Public Schools Superintendent Larry Vick. "We took what dollars we had from the migrant program and the 21st Century program and the PR responsibilities, which were about half of what Ms. Ellis was doing, so we were able to put those three together and come up with a full-time position."

Vick said Gaddis was chosen because of his experience as an administrator and his qualifications as a teacher, in addition to his other skills.

"Someone with Mr. Gaddis' experience fit very well the expectations for the new position," Vick said. "It's kind of an unusual set of responsibilities that we were able to put together, but that's the only way we could make it work. He has the skill set that is pretty uniquely qualified to do all of those activities."

Vick said the void created by Gaddis' shift to the Central Office will be filled by Joe Conway, who will become interim principal of Cravens. Conway has previously served as athletics director and assistant principal at Owensboro High School and as an interim principal at Estes Elementary.

"We were hoping to get a group of applicants, but we didn't get the number of qualified applicants that we felt would be good for the council to have a good decision," Vick said. "He (Conway) has been in our district a long time and I think will do a good job as the interim principal. It will give the council plenty of time to hire the permanent principal for Cravens."

Gaddis said he is both excited about the job and a little nostalgic already for what he has left behind.

"It's a very bittersweet feeling right now. I know that on Aug. 11, it'll be a sad day because it'll be the first time in 14 years that I wasn't some level of an administrator that greeted people at the front door when they walked into school on the first day," Gaddis said.

Gaddis said he has priorities in the new job, though.

"I want to learn all these responsibilities and, like anyone, after you get acclimated, there are opportunities," Gaddis said.

After that, Gaddis said he would like to see growth especially in the public relations part of his job that includes the public access channel.

"I think it draws the public to see current information, current things that are going on in school buildings, plus it's student-generated work. It's not just a billboard on a cable station. It's actually showing the work of kids, that they've produced and put together," Gaddis said. "It's endless, what we can do with digital technology. That would certainly give some kids opportunities you're not going to have at home, producing news, broadcasting your own athletic events, live broadcasts of a band contest, live broadcast of an academic meet."

Gaddis said he is also especially looking forward to his work with the foundation, building relationships and promoting its outreach so the organization can do more to raise funds from the community and the alumni of the district's schools.

Overall, Gaddis said, he's pleased that he still has a role in helping the district meet its top priority.

"Those (new responsibilities) are very exciting and they still play a role in what we do, which is teaching kids," Gaddis said.

Dariush Shafa, 691-7302 dshafa@messenger-inquirer.com

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