Updated May 31 at 10:45 a.m.
West Ridge Middle School principal Steve Ramsey has been named interim principal of Westlake High School following the resignation of John Carter.[/caption]West Ridge Middle School principal Steve Ramsey has been named interim principal of Westlake High School.
The seat was left vacant by John Carter, who announced his resignation May 20 after four years. Carter said he is moving to Chicago to teach mathematics.
The decision to appoint an interim principal on a temporary basis from within the school district came after consulting with his administration team and deciding there was not enough time to go through a thorough process while the position remained unfilled, Eanes ISD Superintendent Tom Leonard said in a May 31 email to parents and staff.
"While we believe in an inclusive process, we also believe that we need to move quickly in establishing a smooth transition, with the latter being our highest priority at this time," Leonard said in the email.
Ramsey has spent nearly 12 years teaching social studies and serving as assistant and associate principal at WHS, according to Leonard.
Claudia McWhorter, the district's executive director of communication and community engagement, said Ramsey began his role as WRMS principal in the 2012-13 school year.
"He will be the leader of Westlake HS, and he will mold and guide his team to make sure we have a smooth transition and a great school year," Leonard said of Ramsey in the email.
He said the district will immediately post the job opening for the West Ridge Middle School principal and keep the community updated on on whether an interim candidate will serve until the district is able to have a full selection process similar to that of Bridge Point and Forest Trail elementary schools, where two principals recently retired.
Posted May 24
Westlake High School Principal John Carter announced his resignation May 20.[/caption]Westlake High School principal John Carter announced his resignation May 20 from Eanes ISD, effective at the end of the school year.
“The class of 2016 and I share a few things in common,” he wrote in a letter to parents last week, saying he joined the seniors four years ago at WHS and was departing after their graduation.
Carter said he would be returning to his hometown of Chicago to teach mathematics at New Trier High School.
“As most of you know, I entered the education profession for two major reasons: an unshakable belief in the fundamental goodness, intelligence, inquisitiveness, and untapped potential of high school students and an authentic passion for the teaching and learning of mathematics,” he said in the letter.
He will be closer to his family in Illinois, as his daughter will begin her teaching career there and his son will be attending college nearby, Carter said.
He kept Eanes ISD Superintendent Tom Leonard—who is also from Chicago—in the loop throughout the interview process, he said.
“We are thankful for the service John Carter has given to the Westlake High School community for the past four years,” Leonard said in a statement. “John [Carter] has been extremely respectful and transparent, updating me throughout the interview process, which has allowed us to start contemplating a smooth transition for Westlake High School. We thank him for his service and wish John all the best.”
Carter thanked the district, the board of trustees, the administration and staff for the support they have given him over the last four years.
“I will be forever grateful to the Westlake community, and especially to the amazing students who impress me every day, the supportive and caring parent community, the faculty and staff members who give tirelessly of themselves on behalf of the students, and to all of the unbelievable support systems that make this school district so remarkable,” he said in the letter.
