East St. Louis, Ill. -- Anthony Smith, current principal of Curtis Miller Alternative School, has been named interim principal for East St. Louis Senior High School effective Oct. 5, 2012.  Smith replaces Dr. James Harden, who resigned on Wednesday, Oct. 3.

Smith has served as principal at Curtis Miller Alternative School since July 20, 2012, and he has made several significant improvements in curriculum and instruction, as well as in the climate of the school.  Prior to coming to East St. Louis School District 189, he served as Freshman Academy principal in the Normandy School District in St. Louis.  He also served as a middle school and high school assistant principal in that district.

“We are very appreciative that Mr. Smith is available to take the lead at the high school,” said Superintendent Arthur Culver.  “Based on his performance at Curtis Miller, we are confident that he can lead the work of transforming East St. Louis Senior High School, as outlined in our School Improvement Grant (SIG). The SIG grant provides the high school with incredible resources in personnel and professional development.  We expect great improvements in academic achievement, as well as culture and climate, under Mr. Smith’s leadership.”

East St. Louis Senior High School was recently awarded a $6 million School Improvement Grant from the Illinois State Board of Education.  The grant is to be spent over three years to improve student achievement at the high school.

As a part of the high school transformation process, teachers are working a longer school day, professional development is embedded into the school day, and the teacher evaluation process is being revised.  Other SIG initiatives include the addition of an academic interventionist, a community engagement coordinator, a Read 180 teacher, and a positive behavior intervention systems coordinator.

Retired East St. Louis Senior High School Principal Jethro Brown will serve as acting principal at Curtis Miller Alternative School until a replacement for Smith can be named.

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