OKC Public Schools Names New Principal To Douglass High School

The interim principal of Douglass High School has been hired permanently for the position. Barbara Davis is the new principal of the often-embattled school.

Wednesday, May 29th 2013, 8:47 am

By: News 9

OKC Public Schools Names New Principal To Douglass High School

The interim principal of Douglass High School has been hired permanently for the position.

Barbara Davis is the new principal of the often-embattled school. In a statement released early Wednesday morning, Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Karl Springer said, "The Douglass school staff, students and community have enthusiastically shown support of Barbara Davis and her leadership as interim principal. This school district administration has been impressed and pleased with the job she has done thus far and we look forward to continued academic success she will bring the school."

Davis took over the job in October 2012 when Dr. Brian Staples resigned. He left after he was accused of inflating grades and tampering with attendance records to make it look as if students were performing better than they were.

A month of Dr. Staples' resignation, an audit of the school revealed a majority of the school's seniors did not have enough credits to graduate in May 2013. The district came up with a plan to make sure those students graduated, including longer school hours, night school and extra tutoring.

The hard work paid off. Nearly every senior graduated Saturday, May 25.