Nicole Carter Named Novi High Interim Principal

Nicole Carter was already serving as Novi High School's interim principal for several months and will officially be in that position for the upcoming school year.

District Superintendent Steve Matthews announced Carter's appointment as interim principal in a news release. The school has been without a principal because of the board's decision earlier this month not to hire Carter.

"Ms. Carter has extensive experience at the schools. She has been an assistant principal for three years, a dean for three years and a teacher for eight years at the high school," Matthews said about why he recommended her for the principal position. 

The board's rejection led to much protest from the community in support of Carter.

When asked by the board to create a leadership plan at the high school for the new school year, Matthews decided to appoint Carter as interim principal again. 

"Ms. Carter has served in this role for several months.  She knows our initiatives, she knows our students and staff, she knows our teacher evaluation system, she knows our schedule, she knows what positions need to be hired, and she knows the building," he wrote in a letter to parents. 

The high school will continue to have three assistant principals, according to the news release. An interim high school assistant principal will be appointed to serve with assistant principals Charles LaClear and Robert Baker.  The interim high school assistant principal will be a retired administrator, the news release said.

The board members recognized Matthews' recommendation to hire Carter as principal, but they weren't confident in the hiring process and wanted to meet more candidates. They were also looking for someone with more experience as principal. 

The board's decision restarted the search for Novi High School's principal. Matthews will outline a plan to clarify the hiring process with the board and repost the position in March.