School Board Hires York As New Principal

By David
Adlerstein
Times City Editor

The Franklin County School District has hired a 50-year-old industrial arts teacher from Michigan, a former building contractor who turned to a second career in education a dozen years ago, to become principal over the new consolidated school.
At the regular meeting July 10, the school board unanimously approved the recommendation of Superintendent Jo Ann Gander to hire Robert P. York, of Charlotte, MI. He replaces Dr. Isaac Neal, who left the principal position four months ago after Gander declined to recommend him for rehiring.
York will bring a wealth of business and teaching experience, but scant background as a principal, when he assumes the reins of the new school at the end of this month.
"I'm looking for strong teamwork, building professional learning communities and just an all-around strong desire to work together," he said, in a telephone interview. "I'm not looking to come in and say ‘I'm the leader." I'm looking to come in and say ‘We are all learners as well as teachers and we can benefit from each other's experience.'"
York completed a one-year internship as a principal in Eaton Rapids Middle School during his time studying for his doctorate in educational administration at Michigan State University. He completed his course work for that degree in May, earning an Ed.S, a specialist degree in educational administration. Once he writes his dissertation, he'll be eligible for a Ph.D, probably by June 2010.
Married for the past 18 years to wife Lorena, who teaches Advanced Placement Spanish courses in the East Lansing schools, he and his wife have an 8-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter.
Lorena York is leading a trip to Europe this summer with East Lansing students that will give them a leg up on fulfilling their college language requirements. She and the couple's two children plan to remain in Michigan for the school year, and travel down to Franklin County on their Thanksgiving, Spring and Christmas breaks.
After earning an associate's in electromechanical technology, with special studies in digital electronics, from Lansing Community College in 1979, York set out on a hands-on career as a building contractor.
Since 1975, he has been owner-operator of York General/Robert York Builder in East Lansing, handling all phases of designing, remodeling and construction of residential and commercial properties.
From 1985 to 1988, he was field service engineer and computer systems technician for National Guardian Alarm Systems, in North Richland Hills, TX, where he repaired, maintained, and installed security systems. Prior to that he was power plant engineer for Republic Bank in Dallas, and field service engineer for Zeno Systems in Dallas, and for Eastman Kodak in Houston.
After two decades in the private sector, York turned to teaching, earning a bachelor's in industrial arts - technology education from Central Michigan University in May 1996.
During his college years he worked as a substitute teacher, and after graduation, taught applied technologies at Edsel Ford High School, in Dearborn, MI; Maple Street Magnet School in Kalamazoo, MI; Dwight Rich Middle School in Lansing, MI; and Milwood Magnet School, in Kalamazoo.
After studies at Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan, York earned a master's in educational technology and instructional design in 2003 from Michigan State.
"I've worked in hard-core inner-city schools, and taught computers, building construction, machine electronics, the whole gamut," said York. "Thirteen years of classroom experience, that'll prepare you for anything."
Among the subjects he has taught are Small Engines, Electricity and Electronics, Metals and Machining, Drafting and CAD, Woodworking, Materials Processing, Photojournalism, Stage Set Design and Construction, Web-Page Design and Computer Graphics.
He said the economic and educational climate in Michigan is a key reason he decided to pursue a career in educational administration.
"Industrial arts traditional programs have pretty well gone by the way of the dodo, so to speak," York said. "I started back to school to become an administrator and it really seems like a good fit for me because of previous business ownership and a desire to really be able to work with all the people, not just some of the people, and hopefully be a little more effective. I really want to be able to assert myself and deal with students, teachers, parents, the community as a whole."
York said he would like to see the concept of "school discipline" take on a broader meaning under his leadership.
"Discipline does not have to be an ugly word," he said. "I don't use discipline in an ugly way. Discipline for me is anyone who is a disciplined professional or a disciplined learner. You do what you have to do for the success of the organization, for everyone involved in that organization, and everyone in the community."
He said he is shooting to come down the last week of this month, about two weeks ahead of when teachers return Aug. 11 through 15. Students' first day of school is Monday, Aug. 18.
"I know it's going to a challenge but I have complete trust and faith in the teachers and the community as a whole," said York. "You have to have trust and faith in your professional community because I know they can do the job. I have no qualms about that. I'm really looking forward to getting together with my staff and really having an excellent and rewarding and successful school year. I have no doubts it will be."