Thomas Kell Set to be Named Principal at Roosevelt

Wyandotte eighth-graders transitioning to next year could have a familiar face coming with them.

Thomas Kell, the current principal at , is set to be appointed as the new principal at Roosevelt effective for the 2012-13 school year.

A special Board of Education meeting is being held at 7 p.m. tonight at to make the appointment.

Patrick Hickey, Roosevelt's current principal, is set to step down and return to the classroom as a social studies teacher at Roosevelt.

"I've been out of the classroom for nine years and have missed it for the most part," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting back to working with the kids in that area. I've been very happy with the way things have been running at the high school ... but I do look forward to going back to the classroom."

Hickey said he has no regrets about the move and is looking forward to a new set of challenges.

"It’ll be different, but I don’t think things will be weird," he said. "If I’m looking forward to it and am excited about it, the kids in the classroom will, as well. It'll give them a chance to see me in a new light and I'm looking forward to that."

Hickey said he supports the notion of giving the job to Kell and looks forward to working with him should he be appointed tonight.

"I've worked with Mr. Kell before and I know he will do a great job," Hickey said. "It’s going to work out well. It’ll be a good transition. I still want to be a leader within the district and will do what I can to assist him. I still want things to go well. ... I know what a difficult job this can be."

Hickey started his career with as social studies teacher at Roosevelt after first teaching in Hamtramck and Detroit. He then was promoted to Roosevelt's assistant principal, which he held for seven years, before becoming principal two years ago.

School board President Patrick Sutka had nothing but praise for Hickey.

"It's comforting to know he's not going away," Sutka said. "He will continue to influence the young lives in this district as a teacher, as a coach and as a father."

School board Treasurer Dana Browning said she was caught off guard with Hickey's request to move back to the classroom, but said she supports him.

"I thought he'd be (at Roosevelt) forever, but it's good that he recognized where he truly wants to be," she said. "It’ll be great for the students to have him back in the classroom."

Browning said she's excited about the transition, especially considering than an internal candidate is being considered for the principal's position.

“Wyandotte has really wonderful administrators who all work really well together," she said. "This is working out to be a great thing."

School Superintendent Carla Harting, who sits on the district's interviewing committee, said she whole-heartedly supports Kell for the position.

"He is an experienced educator who we felt would do an excellent job at the high school," she said.

If Kell is approved to move to the high school, the district will then accept applications for the open principal's position at Wilson, Harting said.

Kell could not immediately be reached for comment for this story.

Check back later as more information is released. And check back tonight as Wyandotte Patch will be