Berkshire Middle School Names New Principal

will have a new leader next year. announced Thursday that assistant principal Jason Clinkscale will replace  retiring principal James Moll next year.

Clinkscale has been with the district as an assistant principal since 2006. Before that, he taught 7th grade science for seven years in Southfield Schools where Clinkscale grew up and was schooled.

A graduate of Wayne State and Michigan State, Clinkscale said his main goals  are to grow current initiatives started by the district and Berkshire administration, including providing support for staff and extra resources for struggling students.

“We do great things here,” Clinkscale said. “We just have to stay focused.”

Birmingham administrator leaving after 38 years

Choosing retirement was a battle between his head and his heart for Moll. A state retirement incentive made the move financially opportune, yet Moll said it's difficult to leave his students.

"We have an extremely talented student base, wonderful facilities, a strong curriculum and provide excellent education to all students," he said. "For awhile, I wasn't ready to take that step (and retire)."

Moll has been with the district for more than 38 years and during his six-year tenure as principal of Berkshire, he brought in two-thirds of the school's current staff and has moved the school from a seven- to six-period day. "I've seen the building through these transitions," Moll said. "I know the staff is strong and the kids are great."

Before coming to Berkshire, Moll spent four years as the dean of students at , 13 years running Birmingham's Experiential Learning Center and eight years as a crisis counselor. Before that, Moll taught English and theater at Groves and Berkshire.

Moll's favorite moments are easy to recall, including teaching Sam Raimi, director of the Spider-Man films. "Each stage in my career have had these types of moments," he said.

Moll promises to stay busy. He said he's a "frustrated actor" and regularly acts as part of the Farmington Players. In addition, Moll said he's been asked to supervise students teachers at Oakland University and work with the University of Michigan adventure education program.

New administration prepares to tackle MEAP scores, achivement gap

Clinkscale said one of Berkshire’s biggest challenge is in the changing cut scores for the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) exam. (For a complete list of Berkshire’s 2010 MEAP scores, visit the .) With the cut scores changing, Clinkscale said the percentage of students who meet or exceed state standards could drop dramatically.

“(The question will be) how do we address students not proficient on the MEAP. How are we going to rise and meet the challenge?" he said.

In addition, Moll and Clinkscale agree that reducing the achievement gap and making sure all students receive the "Birmingham advantage" is a goal that will never go away.

"It's all about asking, how do we challenge each other? It's about not being complacent. It's about being ready to take that next step," Moll said.