OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Mr. Timothy Ray, Assistant Principal at Charles Page High School, Sand Springs Public Schools, has been named the 2022-23 Oklahoma Assistant Principal of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals (OASSP).
As assistant principal for the past ten years at Charles Page High School, Ray has been an integral part in shaping school culture, supporting student learning, and transforming student behavior outcomes. For the past three years, Mr. Ray has implemented a new program, We Always Return with Purpose (WARP) as an alternative to long-term suspensions. Using the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, students return from a shortened suspension to attend 2 days of training, followed by monthly meetings with Mr. Ray. As a result, the school has reduced long-term suspensions (10 days or more) from an average of 24 per year to five on average. Only 5% of students in the WARP program have had subsequent behaviors requiring long-term suspension.
"We are so proud of Timothy,” said Sherry Durkee, Superintendent of Sand Springs Public Schools. “He leads with abundant wisdom in every situation, carefully considering the best outcomes for students. His calm communication style with students, parents and staff builds trusting relationships, making problem solving seem effortless."
Mr. Ray has helped embed efforts to identify and address the needs of students through strategic leadership team decision-making, including consistently analyzing common assessment results, classroom grades, attendance, student behavior and graduation rates.
"Timothy Ray is a unique combination of a traditional assistant principal who supports his teachers in their classroom management efforts and an innovator who creatively finds solutions for students that allow them to continue in school and to be successful,” said Stan Trout, Principal of Charles Page High School. “Fully dedicated to the principles and spirit of tiered intervention, Timothy is tireless in his drive to create programming that supports our school's improvement efforts and serves the unique needs of every student.”
"I am honored to receive this recognition and am beyond grateful to be able to work for Sand Springs Public Schools at Charles Page High School,” said Ray. “Certainly, this acknowledgement belongs to our entire staff as it is truly a direct reflection of the work our teachers are doing in their classrooms each day. We believe this is a special place where vital work is being done by extraordinary people, and I am proud to be part of a school district that is passionate about our shared mission to challenge, inspire, and empower all learners. It is such a joy to be able to serve with this team and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to support their passions for teaching and learning."
“Throughout Oklahoma, assistant principals serve an essential role in leading and supporting schools,” said Will Parker, OASSP executive director. “Timothy Ray is a superb example of the commitment to students, teachers and communities that principals across Oklahoma are applying to their work every day. We are proud to recognize him as a role model for his school community and among Oklahoma school leaders.”
Ray will be recognized as the Oklahoma Assistant Principal of the Year by the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administrators (CCOSA) and the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals (OASSP) at the CCOSA Summer Leadership Conference in June 2023. He will also be recognized by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) as a State Assistant Principal of the Year. He is eligible to become one of three finalists to be named as contenders for the National Assistant Principal of the Year award. A judging panel will choose finalists based on their written applications, data provided and letters of recommendation, according to the National Association for Secondary School Principals.
For more information about the Assistant Principal of the Year award or to learn more about CCOSA and OASSP, visit ccosa.org.
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ABOUT OASSP
The Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals (OASSP) supports secondary level principals by providing quality professional development, encouraging advocacy and networking for the improvement of middle and high school education in Oklahoma. OASSP is an affiliate of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and a constituent association of the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA).