“People.”
“The people from the community to the teachers to the students, that's what makes Lascassas great,” Uptain added.
Director of Schools Bill Spurlock today named Uptain the new principal of Lascassas Elementary School. Uptain succeeds Kim Marable, who recently took a position as the district’s new accountability and assessment specialist.
He previously worked as an assistant principal splitting his days between Smyrna and Lascassas elementary schools from July 2016 to June 2018 before spending the past three school years as an assistant principal at Rockvale Elementary.
His administrative experience, especially his familiarity with Lascassas, gave him an edge for the position.
“We were fortunate to have two superb finalists for the Lascassas principal position,” Spurlock said. “Mr. Uptain’s previous experience at the school and his performance as an assistant principal at Rockvale Elementary School make him the ideal person for the job. He knows and understands the community and the high standards the parents have for their children’s education.”
Having been at Lascassas Elementary under former principal Tamera Blair, approximately 50 percent of the staff are the same from when Uptain was last there three years ago.
He arrives back at the school a week out from the first partial day with students on Aug. 6 and the first full day on Aug. 9.
His immediate plan is to build and foster relationships.
“That’s my number one priority,” Uptain said, “the relationships with the school, the community, foster close relationships with the Central Office and earn their trust and let them know I’m there to stay and I’m there for that community.”
Lascassas is a school with a proven record of high achievements.
“There should be high expectations at all of our schools,” Uptain concluded, “so, yes, there is a pressure to continue to have high achieving students and to continue to grow those students and help them meet their highest potentials.”
