Sherman High School principal resigns

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Posted: 1:04 PM Jul 15, 2008
Last Updated: 6:26 PM Jul 15, 2008
Reporter: KXII Staff
Email Address: firstnews@kxii.com

32 comments

Thomas O'Neal

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SHERMAN, Tex. -- The Sherman Independent School District is now searching for a new high school principal after Thomas O’Neal turned in his resignation on Friday.

O’Neal was in Sherman, for three years. He accepted a position at Anna High School as principal.

The move will allow O’Neal to work with students while pursuing his Doctorate at the University of North Texas.

Sherman ISD superintendent Al Hambrick says the district has posted the position and is working on filling the position. The superintendent says O’Neal will be missed.

Hambrick says he hopes to have someone in place by the start of the school year.

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Denison ISD Board approves rollback election

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Friend Location: Tombean on Aug 12, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Lets see Hambrick worked and got his Doctrate while he was Principal at the high school ( check it out). Maybe Mr. Oneal who is working on his Doctorate was not allowed to do so by the very same person who himself got his. ( check it out)

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Sherman on Jul 28, 2008 at 11:05 PM
As a Sherman High School teacher I would like to say that Thomas O'Neal was a wonderful, kind--easy to talk to---boss. Mr. O'Neal was comitted to make SHS the very best school possible. The teachers as SHS will miss him and only wish him and his family the very best. Our loss is Anna's gain. I was also a teacher at SHS when Dr. Hambrick was the principal, now he is my boss as superintendant. The people of Sherman are lucky to have him as the head of the SHS schools. Dr. Hambrick puts in countless hours both when he was principal at SHS and now as superintendant...trust me...we are getting our moneys worth.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 24, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Sound like you all can't take a honest and fair leadership in Sherman. Look what you all accomplished as a whole with your education program. Like anyone, that replace someone out of the norm, you have to work bugs out of the system. Sound like there are some bugs to worked out. Keep up the good work Hambrick. You will have someone by start of school. With open arms. Good luck to the Principal, and someday you too may become Superintendent of Anna.

Posted by: teacher2 Location: sherman on Jul 24, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Let's all wish Mr. O'Neal good luck in his new position and look forward to what we can do to make Sherman a better place for our kids. We need to focus on making sure our kids have a safe and highly instructional environment. The schools district is in chaos right now with a new math and science curriculum ( costing how much money money when we just adopted Math textbooks) a high school (2 principals short), little to no support from Central Office of the Principals and their staffs and a school budget running our of control. Parents need to get involved in their kids education and stand up for what they believe in THEIR KIDS!!!

Posted by: Ha Location: UT on Jul 18, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Reno, you just had to bring your "god" into the discussion didn't you. You do realize that religion is only organized superstition don't you.

Posted by: TX Mom on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:46 PM
To Who in Dallas, your so right, DALLAS schools are soo much better. I hope you recognize sarcasm when you see it.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 17, 2008 at 01:40 AM
I was born and raised in Sherman. Having gone through the entire SISD school system plus attended GCC, i can tell you i got a better education than most. While i was there Dr. Hambrick was principal and he did a better job than most could ever have. I dont believe any of you have a right to comment on here about this subject unless you've gone to school here and experienced both of these men doing there jobs. Good for Mr. O'Neal for wanting to further and better his career. Good luck to you.

Posted by: Me Location: Grayson on Jul 17, 2008 at 01:39 AM
Remember Hunter Smith the punter for the Colt, He was a sherman grad, and also played at Notre Dame. We also have several area player at UT and Texas Tech. Think before you speak

Posted by: Reno Location: Sherman on Jul 16, 2008 at 09:19 PM
Tom....I have to say that I disagree with you. I believe that being a Godly man, as is the case with Mr. O'Neal and Dr. Hambrick, does make them much more capable of handling such an important job than someone who is not a Godly person. I know that both men pray about decisions before making them and I believe that with God leading them, they will not go wrong. If you truly feel that Dr. Hambrick is in over his head (I completely disagree with you), this is not the place to discuss it. Please show him some well-deserved respect and visit with him privately. I believe that disrespectful, public comments are inappropriate and I don't see any good that will come from it.

Posted by: who Location: dallas on Jul 16, 2008 at 06:50 PM
Midniteryder: I attended Sherman schools until High School, then I went on to bigger and better things. I have been on both sides and Sherman is lacking in many areas. I am now a successful Human Resources Manager with a large company. I guess if I were to really use my business saavy, panhandling could really pay dividends. Thanks for the tip!

Posted by: Sherman Location: Sherman on Jul 16, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Why hasn't the principal at Piner quit? That's who really needs to get out of here and move to Anna or where ever. Piner is one of the worst ran schools around here. She should leave and take her 8th grade asst. principal with her.

Posted by: midniteryder Location: Sherman on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:22 AM
"Who in Dallas"? WHY in Dallas is more like it. My sons attend Sherman High, and have been in SISD schools since they were in Dillingham (when we moved to this area). I cannot speak for the other schools in the area, and I wouldn't know Mr. O'Neal if I met him on the street, but I have no real beef with the man at all. If he wants to improve himself, good luck to you, sir. And personally, I don't care so much about those who go to & star in NCAA Div. I sports as I am about the ones who become leaders in business, politics, and the community who got their start in SISD. Back to panhandling at the DART stations for you, Who............

Posted by: Denison HS & UT Grad Location: Sherman on Jul 16, 2008 at 10:59 AM
My comments were not meant as a knock on community colleges. They were more of a shot at 'who' in dallas, who I sincerely doubt even finished middle school. (See how this works?) I apologize if they came off that way. I, too, spent a year at GCC before moving onto a four-year university. I agree there is nothing wrong with an Associate's Degree. My deepest apologies to anyone that I may have offended. (Except 'who') :)

Posted by: Tom Location: Sherman on Jul 16, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Reno, I do know both men personally, I have for years. I didn't say they weren't nice people, However, being nice and Godly doesn't mean you know how to run a muti- million dollar school system budget.

Posted by: Teacher Location: Sherman on Jul 16, 2008 at 04:40 AM
Having been in the SISD for many years I can speak about both men. Thomas O'Neal is wonderful Godly man, who NEVER wanted to be the head man at the h.s.. But, he was told he HAD to go to the high school. He did his best, but, when the people at Central Office have no idea what goes on, then his hands are tied. Ever had your kids say one of the administrators had attended a class? No, not one! Also, anyone ever checked to see how many of the C.O. people ever taught at a high school level? Ninety percent are grade school level who have not a clue as to what goes on at SHS. Dr. Hambrick is also a very nice man, but, under his principalship the discipline went to hell in a handbasket and has only gotten worse. Moral of the teachers at the high school level is at an all time low because Central and the school board have their heads in the sand. I pray we hire someone with backbone who is acutally there to make it a better place.

Posted by: State Worker Location: Texas on Jul 16, 2008 at 12:51 AM
Wow, give the guy a chance to move up and move on. Quit dissing him. Anyone who is griping about the tech people. You should work for the State of Texas and see how archaic their technology is...10 year old computers...go figure.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 16, 2008 at 12:32 AM
Who location Dallas, Anna is a joke too, I would not send my kid there if you gave me a million dollars

Posted by: reno Location: sherman on Jul 15, 2008 at 09:37 PM
I have never responded to the negative comments that I have seen on this blog. However, to "who" in Dallas...google the names Charlie Johnson and Hunter Smith of the Indianapolis Colts. You will find that they are both graduates of Sherman ISD. And for you to compare schools because of athletics and not academics...wow! And to Tom in Sherman...I don't know if you know Mr. O'Neal and Dr. Hambrick personally. I am guessing that you do not or you would have never said the very negative things that you did about them. I have worked with both of them and they are two of the most caring people I have ever met. They both want what is best for Sherman ISD! I believe that the school board completely made the right decision in putting Dr. Hambrick in the superintendent position! Good luck, Mr. O'Neal! You will be missed!

Posted by: jack Location: potts on Jul 15, 2008 at 07:57 PM
you know he is a very nice man to work for i have worked ib sherman for 10 plus years and find it a great and fair place to work students at my level and grade are very succesfukk some people just want to fuss,,,get a life

Posted by: damon Location: j on Jul 15, 2008 at 07:09 PM
in response to 'who'.......that would be Jermaine Gresham, who, the last time i checked, was a major contributor to the big 12 champion OU Sooners. I think they are D1......

Posted by: Hate snooty people Location: Texas on Jul 15, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Denison & UT Grad-- You are a spoiled rich brat or deep in debt with student loans. There is nothing wrong with an associates from CCCC or GCC. Why waste money at UT the first two years when you can get your basics out of the way for less money at these two exceptional colleges. A lot of kids are having to work & pay for their schooling and these kids need to be commended. At least they are trying to make something out of their lives.

Posted by: tom Location: sherman on Jul 15, 2008 at 05:38 PM
We are losing just another “YES” man to the inadequate Superintendant we currently have. The school board may wake up one day and realize that Hambrick is in over his head with his current position.

Posted by: pottsboro citizen on Jul 15, 2008 at 05:32 PM
I live in pottsboro, and our High School has had a problem keeping their principal and staff. The last principal was here just two years, our girls B-Ball coach was here 1yr, and we change football coaches every other year. The administration needs to put a stop to the SMALL TOWN POLITICS in the school, it is causing a big turnover in our staff, and is killing our extracurricular programs because students don't want to participate in them anymore! A huge portion of the staff is related to one another, and favoritism toward certain students is a huge problem. The teachers need to be hired based upon their College Transcripts and the students need to participate in extracurricular activities based upon their skills, not their LAST NAMES! The cheerleading, basketball, football, etc. programs are a joke, and the Principals catch all the flack from the 90% of parents who don't have the desired "LAST NAME"! I feel sorry for any of the faculty or students of PISD who don't have connections!

Posted by: anon Location: sherman on Jul 15, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Emily is correct on central office. They have all sorts of problems over there. I dont know how they get into the positions they have, but watching anyone that steps into a high position with one of the sherman schools scares me. I have tried myself for over 14 years to get on as a technology person and all the bs that they put you through im not sure if it's worth it. Only reason I do it is because family works for the schools, and they complain about the tech people all the time and have me come fix it for them instead of calling them. They lost the assistant principal and now the principal at the high school, seems like no one makes it there for longer than a couple of years, even the counselors.

Posted by: landlockedtxn Location: baja oklahoma on Jul 15, 2008 at 04:47 PM
Also, Denison HS grad and UT grad: Dont knock the junior colleges around here. Currently a student AT GCC. We have students from around the world, the state, and that drive from Dallas of all places to attend our school. We have pride in our college and have received a good start in life from GCC. Quad C that was mentioned also has a good rating as well. Many a famous person started out with a juco degree. Junior colleges are the way to go when you are paying your way as many of us are these days.

Posted by: landlockedtxn Location: baja oklahoma on Jul 15, 2008 at 04:43 PM
In response to "Who" You are so misinformed about our texomaland schools it is not even funny. Please take time to talk to the people in this area. You will find several who disagree with you. the small 9-3A school my kids attend beat out schools like Highland Park, St Mark's school, in the Latin UIL in Humble this year. I am not putting down the bigger metroplex schools like mckinney, etc., but you will be hard pressed to find any better schools than we have here in texoma. why else would everyone move from the metroplex areas in order for their kids to have a positive school experience? Please research before you speak.

Posted by: hr Location: sherman on Jul 15, 2008 at 04:40 PM
to emily or anyone else Mr. O'Neal is A Great Man and no matter where he is he will always be a great man . he is loved by so many like your self don't get me wrong. where ever he goes he will make a great principal. thanks for all you have done in the sherman area.

Posted by: Denison HS grad and Denison ISD teacher on Jul 15, 2008 at 03:59 PM
Also to "who"- I am a product of 13 years of education in the Denison ISD and a college graduate. After seven years of teaching in another school district south of Denison I returned home to teach. I am very proud of what I found when I returned to Denison. From the administration all the way down to the classroom teachers, every effort is made to make sure that the children receive a top notch education and that every child learns. As far as athletics goes, my brother (also a Denison ISD grad), has two JUCO national champ. rings and was drafted by the Orioles. Pretty pathetic huh?? Go Jackets!!

Posted by: Denison HS and Univ. of Texas Grad Location: Sherman on Jul 15, 2008 at 03:25 PM
To 'who' - While area schools produce a large number of students that I would argue never had a chance due to their geneology, there are plenty of examples of sucessful people who went to schools here and then went on and graduated from prestigious universities. As far as how many D-1 scholarships kids from around here are awarded, well, there's more to life than sports. I went to college for an education, and we have plenty who do the same. Your comments are inaccurate, and a true reflection of someone who thinks just because they are in "the city" that they are somehow better than small-town folks. Best of luck on that Associate's Degree at CCCC.

-A Denison High and University of Texas at Austin Graduate

Posted by: Becca Location: Sherman on Jul 15, 2008 at 03:05 PM
is there any ideas for a new princible??? i

Posted by: who Location: Dallas on Jul 15, 2008 at 03:01 PM
All texoma schools are a joke. These schools produce the worst education a kid could have. The athletic programs in Texoma are also a joke. Who was the last person that a Texoma school sent to a successful division 1A program in any sport? How pathetic! Send your children south to McKinney, or maybe even Anna :)

Posted by: Emily Location: Oklahoma on Jul 15, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Mr. O'Neal was a nice man. Sherman has a problem at the central office and I feel for anyone who takes the position. I left the same year Mr. Gilcrease left. I felt sorry for Mr. O'Neal at that time. Until the upper administration gets its act together the high school will still continue to be a disaster zone.