New Dean Hired At BHS
Ardarius McDonald has been appointed as Berkeley High School’s new Dean of Students, replacing Alejandro Ramos. “Both are great,” explained Principal Jim Slemp of the new dean. “I’m thrilled [about his hiring]. I expect him to be in charge overall of safety and discipline. He’s wonderful.” McDonald was chosen for the position over the summer in a “major search,” though he was number one candidate, according to Slemp. His responsibilities for the three thousand plus student body were initially delayed due to some certification issues. However, we now effectively have a dean in office
Before McDonald was selected as the new dean, he worked at BHS as the On Campus Intervention (OCI) Coordinator, focusing on and providing extra help to ninth and tenth grade students who periodically had problems with academics, attendance, and behavior. The experiences of this former job will be helpful in his new one. As dean, he can continue to work with OCI’s Brenda Espinoza. A current AC counselor will be filling McDonald’s old position. McDonald’s responsibilities for this year will include supervising Life Academy, OCI, safety officers, lockers, attendance intervention, and Student Court. He will also be the BHS liaison to the Berkeley Police Department and a member of the Safety Committee.
McDonald applied for the position in January 2009, when he heard about the job posting. He explained, “I’m very confident with the OCI staff. That comfort level with people and their energy here, meeting students and staff. I felt I had something to offer,” said McDonald. Switching from OCI coordinator to dean of students felt like a “natural shift”, since McDonald had gradually been taking on dean responsibilities in Ramos’ absence.One of McDonald’s main objectives for BHS this year is to rework students opinions of OCI, which have traditionally been quite negative. “We do great things here already. [But,] OCI needs stronger organization to intervene with students.” McDonald wants students to think of OCI not as something like juvenile hall, but more like a second chance. This seems like an attainable goal; McDonald himself is looking forward to the job and the challenge that being dean at BHS will present. “I would say it’s a step up from my former job,” he remarked optimistically.
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