Parents Can Tell Hopwell's New Principal What's Important

Hopewell Middle School's new principal has only been on the job about a month, but he's already meeting with staff and now parents to involve them in the school.

"One of the things that I'd really tried to do to work on this summer is to talk to as many people as I can," said Michael LeMoyne, who previously was an assistant principal at Alpharetta High School.

LeMoyne is trying to learn what things have gone well at Hopewell, and what areas need to be discussed and addressed.

With the help of PTA Co-President Lynette Huddle, he has five meetings scheduled from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with parents in their neighborhoods, and is ready to add more.

Meet Principal LeMoyne

• July 17 – Brookshade, 701 Brookshade Parkway
• July 18 – Champions View, 14785 Champions View
• July 23 – Coventry, 2080 Traywick Chase
• July 24 – Highland Manor, 15890 Milton Point
• July 30 – Crooked Creek, 14250 Creek Club Drive

The meetings will start with a brief presentation and discussion about priority areas he's already identified in conversations with parents, staff members and other community leaders. Then he hopes to hear from parents on what they feel needs to be done to support their children at Hopewell Middle School.

He's had no real surprises so far in his conversations. The biggest area to address so far has been communication. He wants to make sure the school is getting information to parents and children, and also communicating with the staff. If a change is made, it matters how quickly the information gets out.

"People have to have an opportunity to be ready, to handle the change," LeMoyne said.

A lot of work was done in the spring to establish a schedule for the upcoming school year, he said, including setting up the school administration.

"As I settle in, my goal is to listen in and hear what people have to say," he said. The school needs to be sure of changes that are important to make now, or what needs to be examined to move forward.

"If changes need to be made, we take the time to do them the right way," LeMoyne said.

A recent check on the school's anticipated 2013-2014 population was set at 1,364, but the new principal expects the final number to change. As summer continues, students enroll and withdraw.

"We have room for more, but obviously our staffing is largely for projected enrollment," he said.

LeMoyne said he is holding these summer meetings because "I want to make sure our parents understand that their opinion maters and I want to hear what they say. I want to get their perspective on things."