FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tucson, Arizona – June 9, 2008

NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL HEAD

William Creeden, Headmaster at St. Gregory College Preparatory School, announced that Phil Woodall will be the new Middle School Head for the 2008-2009 school year. “Phil is a very experienced educator and competent administrator. He has demonstrated success in leading both public and independent middle schools.”

Most recently, Mr. Woodall was principal at Orange Grove Middle School (CFSD). He received the national distinction of Southern Arizona Middle School Principal of the Year in 1999-2000. He previously led as principal La Cima Middle School (Amphitheater) and Hong Kong International School’s middle school.

In addition to focus on student development, data teaming, and teacher assessment, Mr. Woodall’s strength is in facilitating teacher development. “My experience at Orange Grove Middle School taught me that even great teachers want to continually improve their classroom teaching practice.” Together he and the faculty were able to create a learning community structure to review student work, create effective strategies for learning, and develop common assessments of student learning.

Asked about what attracted him to the school, Mr. Woodall explained “St. Gregory’s is a community that has a strong sense of its responsibility to set the bar high and to focus its resources without distraction, ensuring that each student does in fact realize and live out the deep and abiding philosophy and mission of the school.”

Mr. Woodall has earned degrees in elementary education, Eastern Kentucky University, and counseling, University of Kentucky, in addition to administrative certification at Northern Arizona University.

Mr. Woodall replaces outgoing Middle School Head, Dr. Jane Pryne, who resigned to take a university teaching position, fulfilling a long-time career aspiration.

Contact: Linda O'Keeffe
Email: lokeeffe@stgregoryschoool.org
Tel: 520.327.6395 x 201

St. Gregory College Preparatory School
3231 North Craycroft Road
Tucson, Arizona 85712

St. Gregory College Preparatory School is an independent, coed day school for grades 6-12. St. Gregory has no religious affiliation. It is the only school in southern Arizona accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest, and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.

Committed to excellence in education, St. Gregory College Preparatory School has provided a rigorous and superior education in the humanities, sciences and the arts for more than 25 years. With small classes, outstanding faculty, state-of-the-art facilities and a full time college counselor, a St. Gregory education instills passion for learning and unlocks a lifetime of opportunity. Virtually all St. Gregory graduates continue their studies in colleges and universities of their choice.

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