Sho-Ban Jr./Sr. High hires new principal/administrator
New Shoshone-Bannock Jr./Sr. High School Principal/Administrator
Allen Mayo.
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Allen Mayo is the new Principal/Administrator at the Shoshone-Bannock Jr./Sr. High School.
He returned to the school as the junior high math teacher for the school year but stepped up to fill the administrator position for the school year after the School Board asked him.
School Board Chairperson Anna J. Broncho said previous administrator Jonathan Braack’s contract expired. However, Mayo said Braack didn’t sign the new contract that was presented to him.
Mayo said he’s worked with most of the staff from the past. “I felt me taking the position would bring more stability than taking up to a year to find someone to fill the position.” He signed the contract September 17 in the new position. In addition, he said the Idaho State Department of Education offers a mentoring program for first time principals and he’s requested to be added to the list. He should know this week if they have a mentor available to work with him for the school year.
He grew up in Pocatello and recalls coming out to the reservation to experience the Festival as his mother taught at the old high school located in trailers. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Idaho State University in physics with computer science emphasis, along with a minor in mathematics and Business Administration while taking a few seminary classes. He moved to Enid, Okla. to attend seminary and graduate school focusing on a Masters in Business Administration while taking seminary classes. He spent a few years finishing a Masters in Divinity then served at several churches as a youth ministers because he always loved working with children and youth.
Mayo said he returned to Pocatello in 2007 to get help from family in raising two children. He began the process to get certified to teach through the ABCTE alternative route program. He did substitute teaching and custodial work at the Pocatello/Chubbuck school District, applied for various positions in the district but didn’t get an interview. In December 2009 he applied for a math position at Sho-Ban Jr. Sr. High School and was hired as a high school math teacher. He taught at Sho-Ban until May 2016.
In August 2015, he started an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration (Principal Preparation) online through Walden University. During the program he did an Elementary Principal internship at Wilcox Elementary, a Middle School Principal internship at Shoshone-Bannock Jr./Sr. High School, and a High School Principal internship at Pocatello High School. He took a math teacher position in the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District to get his intern hours at Pocatello High School. After completing coursework and internships, he applied for his principal license in Ohio, which has an agreement with Walden University. After obtaining his license from Ohio, he applied for a Principal Endorsement in Idaho and received it this summer.
The Sho-Ban Jr./Sr, High School is up for accreditation and Mayo said he was previously on the school leadership team when they went through it before. “Therefore I am aware of the things we have to do to prepare for the accreditation.” He’s contacted the group doing the accreditation so more information can be obtained as the process and requirements have some changes – he’s waiting to hear from them.
Mayo said the primary focus is the education of the students. “While some of our students are below grade level in some of their subject areas, we are finding ways to fill in some of those learning gaps so that they can be more successful when they are learning the grade level material,” he continued. In addition to helping students become successful and graduate on time they are providing opportunities for students to be college and career ready.
Some of the students go to ISU part of the day to college classes and earn college credit when they complete the course successfully. Last year, every student who took a college course received credit for the course they took. The state provides the funding to pay for the college courses. Mayo added some of the students are working in the FIELDS program that is planning to set up some career internships for some students later this year. Furthermore, they are working with ISU and other nearby technology schools to provide more college and career readiness opportunities for students.
Concerning the recent bullying incident a parent brought to the attention of Mayo regarding the volleyball team he said their top concern at the school is the safety of their students so he immediately started to investigate. Another parent also said her daughter was being bullied by another volleyball player. “I worked with the coach and athletic director to complete our investigation,” he said following the athletic policy and student handbook. Since then he’s talked to some of the players and coaches — they said practice was going better and playing better as a team. He advised all of the girls involved to report any further bullying concerns immediately to staff or him.
