Shawn Tobin is on the fast track to become Dade County’s new school superintendent.
By unanimous vote, Dade County school board members hired Tobin as deputy superintendent for the remainder of the 2011 school year.
Effective this July, Tobin will then become superintendent for the 2012-13 school years. He will assume the leadership role of current Superintendent Patty Priest, who will retire in June.
Tobin comes from Central High School in Carroll County, Ga., where he most recently served as principal for the past five years. He has 23 years of administrative experience and more than a decade of experience in middle school, high school and alternative school education.
The system Tobin is coming from is a larger system, although state requirements and regulations remain the same, Priest said.
The biggest difference may be in size. According to its website, Carroll County west of Atlanta is home to about 14,800 students. According to the Public School Review website, Dade County has just more than 2,500.
It’s a difference the soon-to-be new superintendent looks forward to.
“I was really impressed when all of the principals knew individual names of kids in specific areas,” said Tobin. “That’s a huge advantage in a smaller system, where a principal knows every kid’s name at different levels, I was impressed with that.”
“I’m looking forward to working with everybody,” Tobin told the packed gathering. “If this is a normal attendance, I like it. I have an open-door policy, give me a call anytime you need me. I think you have a strong board, (and it) sounds like kids are always put first, and I want to continue that tradition.”
“I think he’s very excited about being a part of the Dade County school system,” said current superintendent Patty Priest. “We’re excited to have him.”
Tobin said he has been making the rounds throughout Dade County, “shown around by a friend” who is from the area. He said he also has been introducing himself to principals in the area, driving around the area and backpacking in Cloudland Canyon. He has also been involved in Race to the Top training for the school system.
Tobin begins working with Priest and the Dade staff Feb. 15.