Promising Principals- Roswell, Milton & Alpharetta

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In Dr. Steven Miletto’s view, he and Centennial High School were meant for each other.

“Did you ever just have the feeling you were called someplace?” Miletto said.

An east Cobb resident who lives in the small sliver of that county with a Roswell address, Miletto and his family have always shopped, played and gone to church in Roswell.

Until this year, he was principal of Osborne High School in Cobb, where his work was recognized nationally by Newsweek Magazine for improving student achievement. Named Georgia Principal of the Year in 2009 by the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, Miletto later became one of three finalists for the national title.

But Centennial kept surfacing in his life, often in conversations with friends and even strangers.

“Many different things were happening that made me think about what it would be like to be here,” Miletto said. When the principal’s position was advertised, he applied and was chosen to replace the retiring Dr. John Bartley.

“As I’ve started to meet people and meet their kids, I think I will fit well here,” Miletto said.

He is one of nine new and one interim principals in schools across north Fulton this year, and he is eager to tackle his new assignment.

“I think there are challenges I have to begin working on together with students and faculty. We failed AYP last year and we’ve been talking about how to create a good support team to target students who did not pass and get them what they need to graduate, as well as identifying  ninth, 10th and 11th graders who need extra assistance,” Miletto said.

He said he also wants to continue moving Centennial’s “incredible” advanced placement program forward.

Farther north and west, Gene Dunn has left Milton High School, whe he has been assistant principal, for the principal’s chair at Alpharetta High School.

Fortunately, the two schools aren’t arch rivals, Dunn said with a laugh. “There’s always been a friendly rivalry, but it’s always been very professional. The schools work well together,” Dunn said.

A recent graduate of the school system’s Promising Principals Program, Dunn has served as coordinator of Milton High School’s athletic program, assisted with managing the school budget, developed the school safety plan, and was responsible for evaluating the performance of language arts, special education, and fine arts teachers.

In his new school, his immediate focus is on reaching out to parents, faculty and students.

“I know there has been a concern in the community about consistency because they have had so many principals here in a short amount of time,” Dunn said. “My goal is to make this as easy a transition as I can. We have all got to get to know each other before we take on new challenges. After we get through a year we can see where the areas are where we need to make adjustments.”

Another former Cobb County educator, Natalie Richman, is stepping in at Sweet Apple Elementary to replace principal Larry Forti, who retired last year.

Though she was principal of one of Cobb’s high performing elementaries, Richman moved to Crabapple area of Milton five years ago for the village atmosphere.

“I live two miles from Sweet Apple, and it’s been a delight. I am very much a part of the local community,” she said.

Over the summer, she’s been impressed with the dedication of the parent volunteers who have turned out to paint and spruce up the facilities for the upcoming year. “The parent involvement here is amazing,” she said.

A big fan of hands-on learning, Richman said she is looking forward to utilizing the school’s new science lab.

Source: Roswell Neighbor, Joan Durbin

August 29, 2010 | Filed Under: Alpharetta News, Milton News, News, Roswell News