After 28 years in the Plain Local Schools District, GlenOak High School's Building Principal, Gayle Kimbrough, will be serving as Plain Local’s Assistant Superintendent for the next school year.
Kimbrough has held a variety of roles throughout her time in the district, including an English lV and AP teacher for 11 years, a member of the curriculum department for one year, deputy principal for six years, building principal for three years, and a guidance counselor for seven years.
“My first year of being a counselor, I taught AP English on A days and was a counselor on B days,” Kimbrough said.” “It was a fun but crazy year, and I had post-it notes everywhere so I could keep track of what I was doing.”
Serving as an educator and counselor prior to being deputy and building principal has given Kimbrough insight into what students need. She has reflected these needs into her actions and focus as the building Principal.
“As staff and students, we spend a lot of time here, and it should be a great place to be,” Kimbrough said. “…We are not perfect, but I think we've made strides in creating a safe and welcoming environment for staff and students alike. Everyone deserves to feel special and like they matter.”
As building principal, Kimbrough interacts with students daily, making them feel welcomed and supported. She has found this to be one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
“There is such a feeling of hope and potential when I walk through the school or work with individual students, knowing that each and every one of them has the opportunity to grow and become amazing citizens who make a positive impact on the world,” Kimbrough said.
Working with a large student population such as GlenOak’s can be difficult, however, Kimbrough cites Glenoak’s staff as the reason she has been able to overcome challenges that come with being the principal of a large school.
“A challenge of GlenOak is its size and the myriad things that happen every single day,” Kimbrough said. “This would be daunting for a single person, but the high school team, from the principals to our secretaries, the counselors and teachers to the support staff to our deputies to our amazing custodial team and our food service staff…every person plays a vital role in keeping the school and our students successful. I can't begin to articulate the respect I have for our staff. They are what make it all possible.“
As Kimbrough transitions to her new role, she is excited to bring the same passion and dedication to district-wide leadership.
“I am excited to work with a larger group of staff, students, and families and to have a wider range of experiences,” Kimbrough said. “Each of my previous roles has given me a unique perspective on the educational process, and being able to work at a district level and with all grade levels will be exciting.”
Next year, Deputy Principal Brett Niarchos will be filling the role of Building Principal, and Academy Principal Debra Pickering will be filling the role of Deputy Principal.
