Newport Independent School District has announced the hiring of principals for Newport High School and Newport Intermediate School.
Heather Orman, who has more than 20 years of classroom and administrative experience, is the new principal of Newport High School. Orman was most recently an assistant principal at Seneca High School in Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville. She has taught English/Language Arts and math in the Jefferson, Oldham, and Harrison County school districts, in addition to coaching basketball.
Bob Seiter, who also has more than 20 years of classroom and administrative experience, is the new principal of Newport Intermediate School. Seiter was most recently a behavioral resource teacher and assistant principal in the Newport schools and has held administrative and teaching positions in the Bellevue, Bracken County and Erlanger Elsmere school districts as well as at Bishop Brossart High School, where he also served as athletic director and head boys basketball coach and head baseball coach.
“As John Maxwell said, ‘everything rises and falls on leadership,'” said Newport Independent Schools Superintendent Kelly Middleton. “Heather Orman brings vast curriculum knowledge to the high school, as she has led school priority work in Jefferson County as assistant principal at Seneca High School. Heather came highly recommended by leaders in Jefferson County.
“Bob Seiter also brings deep experience in curriculum and the staff truly respects his past leadership efforts at Newport Intermediate School,” Middleton said.
Orman – whose parents, sister and nephews all live in Northern Kentucky – said that she “can’t wait to meet the students”.
“Newport Independent School District has a reputation, throughout the state, for excellent professional development and collaboration, within schools and across districts, aimed at increasing student success,” Orman said. “I am elated to be part of such a highly regarded team.”
Orman said the bulk of her educational career has been spent in schools with higher than average rates of poverty, which is the situation in Newport.
“There is nothing greater than helping students realize their potential, particularly when they face seemingly insurmountable obstacles,” she said. “It is imperative to keep the focus on what’s best for students and use that as the lens through which all decisions are filtered.”
Seiter said he is “very excited” to be named principal at Newport Intermediate School.
“Having worked the past six years at the Intermediate School I have seen the growth and challenges that we face,” Seiter said. “It is a great opportunity to help our staff and students grow over the next several years. As a leader, working within the Newport School District will provide me the opportunity to work closely with our central office leaders who have a wealth of knowledge and talents that they use to support our building administration.”
Seiter believes that it is imperative when leading a school to be visible in the classrooms to not only show support for teachers but also to be able to provide leadership “as our teachers grow and develop”.
“Further, I feel it is essential that I provide leadership in all areas of our building,” he said. “I feel my guiding principles can be best summed up as: shaping a vision of academic success for all students; creating a climate hospitable to education; improving instructional practices; and managing people, data and processes to foster school improvement.”
Orman holds a Ph.D. in Education and Social Change from Bellarmine University; a Rank I in Educational Administration and a Master of Science in English Education, both from Indiana University Southeast; and a B.A. in Education in Middle School Language Arts and Math from Midway College.
Seiter holds a M.A. in Administration and a B.A. in English Education, both from Northern Kentucky University.
