By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Michael Frazier of Cassopolis, a 1969 Union High School graduate, was appointed unanimously this morning by the Dowagiac Board of Education as principal of a building he once attended, Central Middle School.
Frazier, a former German teacher, brings administrative experience as an assistant principal for Elkhart, Ind., Central High School since 1999 and assistant principal for John Young Middle School in Mishawaka, Ind., from 1997-1999.
Frazier is expected to attend the July 21 school board meeting.
At Elkhart Central he was responsible for student supervision, discipline and attendance programs for 1,700 students.
He was the building-level coordinator for all standardized testing and remediation programs and the supervisor for special education, English and foreign language departments and teachers.
He was also the school safety liaison and possesses experience in teacher and program evaluation.
Crandall said Frazier was "genuinely excited" when informed of the decision. "A day later, he said he and his wife were still on cloud nine. He is excited about this opportunity and we're excited to have him. We all felt he will be able to provide the leadership necessary to continue our progress on middle school teaming and he will also be able to provide effective leadership for the transition as we move from Central to the new building."
Bingaman said a principal's search began when Ron Walsworth, Central's principal since 1991, retired after a 34-year career with Dowagiac.
The job was posted internally, as well as with colleges and universities throughout the Midwest.
Thirteen qualified applications came from Michigan and Indiana.
A committee of six, including three Central teachers, Assistant Principal John Pasternak, Curriculum Director Dawn Conner and Bingaman met to review applications and rate candidates.
They selected eight for interviews and quizzed seven over the course of a couple of days.
Bingaman said interviews revolved around "a comprehensive set of questions, which went from personal history -- how did you get here? why do you want this job? -- to what do you know about middle school? What's your passion? What's your instructional base? How are you going to develop staff? How are you as a change agent? How are you going to maintain and continue the progress of reform at Central? How do you prepare the staff for a new building."
The seven candidates were narrowed to three after that round of interviews.
Frazier taught German from 1978 to 1989 at Northridge High School in Middlebury, Ind.
Frazier earned his bachelor's degree in history and German in 1973 from Kalamazoo College and a master's degree in secondary education in 1981 from Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) in South Bend, Ind.
From 1973 to 1978 he worked in the Juvenile Division of Kalamazoo County Probate Court. His last position was as director of the child care unit of the county juvenile home.
His interests include weight lifting, bicycling, German language, travel and wildlife habitat restoration.
Sheryl File made the motion accepting the administration's recommendation, seconded by Faye Edwards.
Frazier starts Aug. 11 with the other administrators.