“She really made an impact”: Parents try to convince ACPS leaders to renew Glen Springs Principal Deanna Feagin

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) -The fight to keep Glen Springs Elementary School Principal Deanna Feagin in her current position was brought before the Alachua County School Board on Tuesday night. However, it appears the people fighting on her behalf aren’t going to get their way, and based on the conversations, and people will still never know why she and other administrators were not renewed.

District leaders will start their search to fill the void. One parent who also works with Feagin said she couldn’t even imagine why the 28-year district employee and the 3-year principal is not being renewed. Dozens of people packed the school district grounds in support of the principal. Still, many cannot understand why they are there fighting this nonrenewal because they believe Feagin has done a great job, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We went through a hard year and with COVID with lots of changes and struggles, and despite all of the challenges, things have been moving forward. There has been a great community, a great movement to keep things positive, keep things moving. Having all of the kids learn and feel loved that is definitely spearheaded by Deanna Feagin,” explained Caline McDermott, a mother of two Glen Springs students and an employee of the school.

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School board leaders think changes need to be made to continue moving the district forward. A spokesperson for Alachua County Public Schools, Jackie Johnson, said the decision to inform these employees like Feagin that they are not being renewed before the public release of the reorganization plan is best for them.

“Those reorganizational plan includes changes in existing positions and some brand-new positions. Those folks need to know what those positions are and perhaps I need to apply for one of those new positions as they become available, which is going to happen very soon. In fact, some of those positions have already been advertised. When you look at it that way, the timing is really appropriate,” explained Johnson.

McDermott has been through quite a few principles and believes Feagin was undoubtedly one of the best.

“She came in, and she really made an impact and was well received and kept things on the right track. We just don’t understand why that would need to change,” said McDermott.

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Parents and those not being renewed will have to wait for that answer until the Superintendent presents her reorganization plan during a workshop on June 2nd.

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