CENTRAL HIRES NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS

Long-time Cape Girardeau Central High School coach and teacher Mark Ruark hopes his new job will give him a chance to put his coaching skills to work on a larger scale.

Ruark was named one of two new assistant principals for Central High Friday.

Joining Ruark as assistant principal is Bill Biggerstaff, currently principal at Chaffee High School.

The two complete a new administration for the high school. Dan Tallent was named new high school principal. He participated in the selection of the two assistants. Fifteen applications were reviewed.

Biggerstaff said his experience at Meadow Heights and most recently at Chaffee have been "excellent experiences."

"I know an excellent opportunity and experience lies ahead of me at Central High School," he said.

They begin work in July.

Ruark said his decision to apply for the assistant principalship was tough. He loved working with students as a social studies teacher and as a coach. He is head girls basketball coach and head boys track coach.

"If you are going to be in education, the logical next step is to administration," Ruark said.

"There are great kids at Central High School, and I've been fortunate to coach them."

Ruark believes he will always be a coach. "I look at this job as coaching on a wider scale," he said.

The fact that a new administrative team will lead Central High next year prompted him to seek the position. "Rather than sitting by and watching the changes, I wanted to be part of it," he said.