Royal Oak Schools Board of Education trustees are set to meet the district’s designated new high school principal in a special board meeting and workshop next week.
Board members will have to formally approve the selection of Don Loomis as the principal, following what district administrators described was a rigorous interview process.
“I am confident Mr. Loomis will provide strong, caring leadership for ROHS’s students, families and staff,” Superintendent Mary Beth Fitzpatrick said in a statement. “Mr. Loomis’s enthusiasm and knowledge were highly regarded throughout the search process.”
Loomis reportedly has a wide range of experience as a teacher and leader, officials said.
Most recently he was an administrator in the Wayne-Westland Public Schools district, and served as assistant principal at Wayne Memorial High School.
Royal Oak Schools officials said in a statement that Loomis has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Concordia University. Earlier, earned a bachelor’s degree in music education, with a minor in history, at Oakland University.
In a statement, Loomis said he is excited to be the next principal at Royal Oak High School and feels his previous experience and skill set will be a great fit for the school community.
“As I was looking into the district,” he said, “I really liked the future direction and the strategic plan supporting that direction.”
Loomis added that he also likes the school district’s many programs that “help all students succeed, regardless of their path.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting students and families,” he said in a statement, “and learning about their experiences of the past and hopes for the future.”
Loomis is set to start the principal’s job on July 1.
ROHS interim Principal Angela Ashburn will serve in that role for the remainder of the school year.
Ashburn worked in the school district for many years and was a former assistant principal at ROHS. She came out of retirement to serve as interim principal following the retirement last year after former principal Sharida Lewis retired.
The recommendation to appoint Loomis as principal will be made to Royal Oak Schools Board of Education Trustees at a special meeting at 5:45 p.m., April 25.
Fitzpatrick said she was grateful for those who took part in the interview panel and made suggestions during the search to find a new high school principal.
“We are looking forward to having Mr. Loomis on our administrative team,” Fitzpatrick said.
