REDMOND, OR -- Redmond High has had four principals in the past six years, and the school will go through another leadership transition, come summer. Tony Pupo has been tapped by the district to take over as Director of Support Services, when current director JB Demaris retires in July.
Superintendent Mike McIntosh says the number of recent principals at the school was a consideration in his decision to appoint Pupo, but ultimately decided he was the best person for the district position. "I have to give him a ton of credit for being the absolute steadying influence in that whole transition from principal to principal."
McIntosh met with RHS leadership staff Monday afternoon and hopes to have a replacement hired in time for the start of school in the fall. "Nobody is looking for drastic changes. We like the path we’re on; we like the path that’s been set before them and they do, too." He tells KBND News he wants the work started by Pupo to continue. "He has done an incredible job of turning Redmond High School around, in the sense that it was having difficulty managing that flux, that change over time. So, Tony applied his hand two years ago in an effort to create a culture where people wanted to be and students wanted to be." And, he expects Assistant Principals Paul Nolan and Chad Lowe will provide the same strength during this next transition. "[Pupo] has done such an amazing job at Redmond High School creating what I say is an optimistic culture, and that has been embraced and endorsed by virtually every staff member and student there. But, they also like the other two," says McIntosh. "I mean, Paul and Chad are also well received by the student body. I think Redmond High School is in great hands. Those two gentlemen remain in tact in their current capacity."
Pupo has worked at RHS for nine years and was promoted to Principal in the fall of 2014, after Nicole MacTavish left for a job in Idaho. She was also Principal only two years. Prior to MacTavish, Lee Loving served as Principal for a year before he moved to Ridgeview High. He took over in October 2011, when Brian Lemos was fired after a year on the job. McIntosh explains, "High schools, by their very nature are the high stress, high energy, high profile positions in our district."
Click HERE to read more from the district on the changes. As Director of Support Services, Pupo will oversee transportation, maintenance and nutrition services.
