Creel: 'Excited at the opportunity'

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Creel: 'Excited at the opportunity'

Posted by

Lorin Sinn-Clark

in Education Archives

Thursday, August 11. 2011

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The Barrow Journal’s Lorin Sinn-Clark sat down with Barrow County Schools Superintendent Wanda Creel to take a look back at her first year, 2010-2011; a look ahead to 2011-2012; and, to hear what her biggest goals, greatest challenges and personal vision is.

FIRST YEAR
Creel said when she first “got the call to come to Barrow County,” she was “excited at the opportunity” and a year and half later, “that hasn’t changed a bit.”

“I’m excited to be here,” she said. “It is an honor and I am humbled to be able to be entrusted with our community’s children and to be able to work with them.”

The challenges of her first year included “being new, having people learn who I am and what I stand for.” She said she understands that change is hard and she worked “to establish those relationships with people.”

She is still working on that today “because you can never have too close of a relationship with those you work with on a daily basis.”

LOOKING AT THE YEAR AHEAD
“I am very excited about this year,” she said. “I think we are building on the foundations that were laid prior to my being here. Now our arrows are heading in the same direction. I think we are poised to find Barrow on the brink of seeing gains in student achievement.”

Creel said Barrow is “on the cusp of becoming a system we can be proud of.” While there are always things that have to be improved, she said, “one of the most thrilling parts is that people are ready to make those improvements.” Prior to the first day of school, Creel met with all 16 school faculties and she described those faculties as “ready and excited about moving forward to do whatever it takes for our students.”

TOP CHALLENGES
“I hate to bring this up, but one of our top challenges is the budget,” Creel said. On the first day of school, Barrow had 500 more students enrolled than last year, yet the school system budget continues to be cut every year.

“We really have, for quite a while, been doing more with less,” Creel said. “I know everyone is affected by the economy. The children who walk through our doors have been affected by the economy and that makes a difference. Trying to meet their needs is such a challenge when our system is having to make such deep cuts and hold back on so many things. We are just hoping and praying that nothing breaks because we don’t have the resources to fix it. We’ve worked really hard at making sure the cuts we’ve had to make have been the farthest from our students that they can possibly be. That tells me we’re still focused on our number one priority, which is our students.”

See complete interview in the Aug. 10 print edition of the Barrow Journal now on sale.

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#1 TckedOff on 08/11/11 at 09:46 AM [Reply]

We hope nothing breaks because "we" don't have the resources to fix it. Then tell us how the heck you have resources to open a "college and career prep" and spend tons of money updating an outdated building. Just another example of a politician at work. Blowing money out one side and whining about cuts out the other. BTW Mrs. Creel, the budget should be the least of your concerns. Educating our students should be first. Mrs. Creel and Mrs. Wehunt must be drinking from the same fountain. Mrs. Wehunt says we are "headed in the right direction" and Mrs. Creel says "we are on the cusp of asystem we can be proud of". Word to both of them . With all due respect ladies, we don't need anymore grandstanding we need some results.

#2 Anonymous on 08/13/11 at 10:26 AM [Reply]

Mrs. Creel, with your comment "Barrow County is on the cusp of becoming a system we can be proud of" surely you were not making reference to the previous superintendent Dr. Saunders, were you? You realize there is no comparison? Dr. Saunders would have never moved the alternative school, students who have been suspended from regular county schools, to directly behind one of the middle schools. I would also go as far to say that the previous superintendent would not have eliminated the School Resource Officer position at the alternative school either.

Just what exactly are you proud of? Obviously it's not providing a safe place for our children to attend schools.

#2.1 r on 08/13/11 at 12:30 PM [Reply]

Shoulda, woulda, coulda. You can't speculate on what might happen, because the world is different today. In Dr. Saunders term, there was more money to do many other things - not like today where educators, and administrators are asked to do more with less.

The school system, along with every other entity tasked with operating with public funds that are under stress, all must adapt to a different world today versus four years ago.

#2.1.1 Anonymous on 08/13/11 at 10:27 PM [Reply]

I can speculate the reality of the importance of providing a safe environment for our children to attend schools. I don't know the financial differences of Dr Saunders term compared to Creels term. But I do believe Dr Saunders was very concerned with the safety of our children. Ok, so let's flip this coin on the other side since it appears as if you agree with the decision to remove the alternative schools SRO. Just because they are attending alternative school, does that make them less important and their safety not an issue? Hmmm I think not?

And as far as the CCPA school? What is the real reason behind opening a third high school in Barrow County for select group of students? Could it be to improve test scores at the other high schools? Just Saying.......

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