Schools
Jefferson Middle School Administrator Takes Job in Royal Oak
William Jones was one of the new school administrators introduced to Royal Oak Board of Education.
Leaders of Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools welcomed the district's two newest administrators on Thursday night.
Gary van Staveren was named principal of Oakland Elementary School and William Jones was named assistant principal of Royal Oak Middle School. Their appointments were announced at the end of Thursday's Board of Education meeting.
Van Staveren replaces David Pontzious, to be principal of a Rochester Hills elementary school.
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Van Staveren was selected from more than 100 applicants. He was previously assistant principal of Avondale Middle School in Rochester Hills. He has 13 years of experience in education: eight years as a teacher and five years as an administrator.
"I am very excited to be here," he said as he thanked the board for the opportunity to serve the students.
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Jones comes to the district from Lakeview Public Schools where he was Dean of Students at Jefferson Middle School. Jones formerly taught at Lakeview High School, where he was named Macomb County's Outstanding High School Teacher of the Year in 2008.
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