Superintendent Jerry Wartgow yesterday announced several personnel changes in the Area Superintendent offices for the new school year.

Retiring from the southeast quadrant is Area Superintendent Irene Jordan. Southeast Assistant Area Superintendent Beth Biggs will move into an Area Superintendent position.

Dave Debus, Assistant Area Superintendent for the northwest quadrant, has accepted the principalship at Lake Middle School for the 2004-2005 school year. Debus has committed to serving as Assistant Area Superintendent on Special Assignment for at least two years at Lake Middle School.

“This will be a challenging assignment,” said Superintendent Jerry Wartgow. “We need more individuals to accept the most challenging positions, and I am very pleased that Dave Debus has stepped forward to serve as the principal of Lake Middle School. His work in the northwest area has been strong. I think he’s exactly what we need to take Lake Middle School to the next level.”

When he came to Denver Public Schools three years ago, Superintendent Wartgow reorganized central administration and created four quadrants, each headed by an Area Superintendent and Assistant Area Superintendent. (The northeast quadrant has two Assistant Area Superintendents.)

“The most efficient and effective ideas are exchanged when expertise and energy move among our management positions,” said Superintendent Wartgow.

Debus replaces retiring Lake Middle School principal Tom Bauman. Prior to his position as Assistant Area Superintendent in the northwest quadrant, Debus was the principal of Edison Elementary School for almost five years. He served for sixth months as the director of human resources for all elementary schools before moving to the northwest quadrant as Assistant Area Superintendent in July 2001.

Jordan is retiring from Denver Public Schools. She accepted her first position with DPS in 1968 as an English teacher and Hispanic Cultures teacher at Manual High School. During her tenure in DPS and prior to her 2001 appointment as Area Superintendent for the southeast quadrant, Jordan has served the principal of West High School for four years and principal of Rishel Middle School for 12 years (among other positions).

Biggs has worked for Denver Public Schools since 1971. During her tenure in DPS and prior to her current assignment as Assistant Area Superintendent in the southeast quadrant, Biggs has served (among other positions) as the executive director of elementary education, the principal of Park Hill Elementary School, and the French teacher for 15 years at Henry Junior High School (now Henry Middle School).

The personnel shifts create two Assistant Area Superintendent vacancies that are slated to be filled this summer.

For more information, contact the DPS Public Information Office at 720-423-3414.