Orange Beach, Ala. - (OBA) - In the press release below, the Orange Beach Board of Education has approved the appointment of Chris Shaw as the new Principal of Orange Beach High School (OBHS) during a Special Called Meeting.

Shaw, an education veteran with a proven record of 17 years as a principal at various esteemed schools in Alabama and Georgia, brings his extensive experience and a history of educational accolades to OBHS. As a former recipient of numerous prestigious awards such as the Principal of the Year in Georgia and Alabama and the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, Shaw promises to inspire both transformational growth and continued excellence in his new role at OBHS.

Press Release:

Today, during a Special Called Meeting of the Orange Beach Board of Education, Chris Shaw was approved as the new principal of Orange Beach High School (OBHS). Mr. Chris Shaw is a native of Homewood, Alabama. He has 17 years of principal’s experience as he has served in this role at Lassister High School in Marietta, Georgia; Spain Park High School in Hoover, Alabama; Northview High School in Dothan, Alabama; and Sparkman High School in Madison County, Alabama. Mr. Shaw is in his eighth year as principal at Sparkman High and is completing the first year of a three-year contract. In addition, he has teaching and coaching experience in Fairhope and Washington County, Alabama, and Georgia.

Mr. Shaw’s resume and accomplishments are outstanding. Notables are that he is a former Principal of the Year for Georgia, District XIII Principal of the Year in Alabama, recipient of both a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and National Blue Ribbon Awards, and recognized as both a National

U.S. News and World Report Top High School in Alabama and in the Country. While at Lassiter, the school received the Siemens Award as the top Advanced Placement School in Georgia. There have been significant improvements in graduation rates, Advance Placement participation and test results, and ACT accomplishments in the high schools he has served. Under his leadership, both the arts and athletics have excelled.

Impressionable notions from the interview were his experience forming appropriate school and community relationships, creating and utilizing community and student advisory committees, ACT preparation, experience in working with stakeholders, teacher mentoring, and attention to detail. He describes himself as a collaborative leader and finds value in teacher and employee visits during planning and break times. He stated that he is not authoritarian though he can make difficult decisions. He gives autonomy to the teachers regarding teaching styles and utilizes data (data walls) and related goals to drive instruction. He expounded upon the use and difference between formative and summative assessments. He has an open-door policy and appreciates feedback. He believes in giving students a voice and emphasized the President's Club (comprised of all club presidents) and the Big Brother and Sister programs. He utilizes The Student Conductor as a means to offer incentives to students. He iterated the importance of relationships, consistent rule enforcement, and staff support. He described an effective classroom as one where students collaborate and are actively engaged; he distinguished between “good” and “bad” noises. He believes in utilizing and revising Continuous Improvement Plan Strategies in every facet (i.e., attendance, credentialing, testing, etc.). He shared his professional learning community (PLC) beliefs and a response to the intervention presentation used.

Orange Beach City Schools is excited about the future of OBHS and looks forward to formally introducing Mr. Shaw to the community soon.