JACKSON, MI – Jackson Public Schools’ virtual class program has a new administrator – one with more than three decades of educational experience.
Kristopher O’Leary has been named new assistant principal for South Central Michigan Virtual. O’Leary spent most of his teaching career instructing fifth and sixth graders for Saline Area Schools, JPS officials said in a news release.
“With over 30 years of experience in K-12 education and a strong background in instructional leadership, student support and alternative education, (O’Leary) brings valuable expertise that will help drive our mission of providing a high-quality virtual and hybrid learning environment,” said South Central Michigan Virtual Director Fred Parker Jr. “His leadership, passion for education and commitment to student success make him an exceptional addition to the South Central Michigan Virtual and the Jackson Public Schools family. We are excited about the positive impact he will have on our students, staff, and school culture.”
O’Leary also has experience in school administration, previously serving as an assistant principal for Kidder Middle School in Northwest Community Schools. In the final ten years before his retirement in 2019, O’Leary served as a building principal and director in Garden City Public Schools, officials said.
Following his retirement, O’Leary briefly worked for NBC Sports, but felt compelled to reenter the educational field due to a 2022 change in legislation allowing retired educators to work in Michigan public schools, officials said. O’Leary then assumed the role of elementary attendance success coach at JPS in early 2024, officials said.
“I am thrilled to join SCMV. The distinctive program offerings and tiered support systems for our students are truly unparalleled,” O’Leary said.
O’Leary began his journey in education at Siena Heights University, where he earned his undergraduate degree social science and elementary education in 1994, officials said. He returned to Siena Heights to get his master’s degree in middle level education in 2001.
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O’Leary’s new job fills an administrative vacancy left by Clifton Foster, who previously served as dean of students at SCMV before taking over as principal at Jackson Pathways High School this summer.
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