CMS High School principal resigns, elementary principal takes over

The Cutter Morning Star School Board held a special board meeting Monday to consider the resignation of Cutter Morning Star High School Principal Nathan Sullivan.

“The only thing we’re discussing tonight is personnel,” Anderson said at the beginning of the meeting.

Following the closed executive session, Sullivan’s letter of resignation was read aloud.

“With a heavy heart I am resigning as Cutter Morning Star High School Principal effective July 31, 2019. It’s been a pleasure and honor to serve the staff, students and parents of Cutter Morning Star. CMS will always remain in my heart and prayers. Thanks so much for the opportunity, and God bless you all,” Sullivan wrote in his letter.

Sullivan served as the school’s principal for three years. His resignation follows his accepting a principal position at White Hall High School in Jefferson County.

The motion was made to accept his resignation, and the motion carried unanimously.

“We certainly can’t blame him for wanting to better himself and wanting to be with his family. That’s one of the reasons why the board voted to decide to accept his resignation. It was the right thing to do for him,” Anderson said.

Once the floor was open to recommendations for the empty position, Superintendent Nancy Anderson officially nominated pre-k through sixth grade Cutter Morning Star Elementary School Principal Terry Lawler as Sullivan’s replacement.

A vote by the board selected Lawler for the job unanimously.

Lawler will be principal of both Cutter Morning Star Elementary School and High School, which includes all of the district’s approximate

600 pre-k through twelfth grade students.

Anderson said Lawler was the only potential candidate considered. Following the meeting’s adjournment, Anderson said Sullivan’s resignation was not necessarily surprising.

“He had expressed interest to me in going up there, and I don’t blame him,” Anderson said, citing White Hall as his hometown and residence of many family members.

“He actually notified me last Tuesday night that the White Hall Board had hired him, then he gave me his letter of resignation on July

25. It was unfortunate in that it was a late resignation, but Mr. Sullivan did a great job while he was here,” Anderson said.

“It was great. That’s a community and a place that absolutely grows on you,” Sullivan, who was not present at Monday’s meeting, told The Sentinel-Record Tuesday.

“It was a very difficult decision for me and my family to come to White Hall. The relationships that we built with staff and students and the community members, those are lifelong relationships and I will treasure those,” he said.

Sullivan’s duties as White Hall High School principal began Monday, he said.

“It was a great opportunity, and a chance to be around family and a new challenge. Again, it wasn’t easy to leave. A difficult decision. But the timing was right,” he said.

Lawler said Tuesday she has accepted the position as Cutter Morning Star pre-k-12 principal.

“It was a little bit of a surprise, but I am very excited,” Lawler said.

Anderson echoed the sentiment, saying “We are very excited for Terry Lawler to take the reins with her experience and knowledge. Even with just her being here two years at the elementary, we’ve already seen significant rise in test scores.”

“The fact that we have someone on staff with such expertise and such a broad scope is very exciting. We are very excited to see what she will do district-wide with test scores and teacher learning.”

Lawler has over 30 years of experience at the Caddo Hills, Lakeside, Lake Hamilton and Hot Springs School Districts in a variety of positions, including those of kindergarten teacher, junior high teacher, counselor, district test coordinator, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent.

Though she has retired twice, Lawler has re-entered the field of education both times, saying she realized each time “school was still in my blood.”

Lawler has been at Cutter Morning Star School District for about two and a half years, beginning her time as interim high school principal in October of 2017. She was named permanent principal of Cutter Morning Star Elementary School for the 2018-2019 school year.

“I have fallen in love with the Cutter community and with Cutter Morning Star School District,” Lawler said.

“I had never really worked much in a small school except Caddo Hills. I had always been in one of the big three; Lakeside, Lake Hamilton or Hot Springs. I had forgotten how close you get to your colleagues and to your students. At Cutter, there are no invisible kids. You know them and they know you.”

Lawler said her previous experience, as well as school support, will make serving as a pre-k to 12 principal feasible.

“I have worked as an assistant superintendent, working with all grade levels in a large district. What I see my role as is making sure that teaching and learning at high quality levels takes place for every kid, in every classroom, every day. So it doesn’t really matter what grade levels I work with, or if I work with all grade levels. If I keep that focus and continue to be supported by such a great staff and Dr. Anderson, it’s a very doable job.”