- May 11, 2024
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James Tager, a principal at Atlantic High School in Port Orange and a former deputy superintendent for the Volusia County School District, has been selected as the next superintendent of Flagler Schools, succeeding Jacob Oliva. The Flagler County School Board voted unanimously, 5-0, on the night of May 2, to pick Tager over the other two finalists, calling Tager "authentic" and "student centered."
At the workshop earlier in the day on May 2, board members spoke in detail about Tager and the other two finalists.
In meeting with Tager, School Board member Colleen Conklin said, she wanted to know if he personally believed in the possibility of getting the district to a 100% graduation rate. He did, she said, and told her that he felt very strongly about the matter.
"I felt like he had a very good handle on industry certifications, the value that they bring not only to the educational realm of what we do in schools but also understood the budget and financial impact as well," she said.
The two had also discussed zero-tolerance school discipline policies, and Tager had agreed with Conklin that, "Yes, the world is not always black and white, that there's gray in the middle so that each case really does require a sense of looking at all of the elements." Conklin was also impressed with Tager's understanding of the importance of building relationships with the community.
Board member Maria Barbosa said that Tager's demeanor had made a positive impression on her. He seemed calm during his interview and maintained good eye contact, she said. He also had the benefit of knowing the area and having contacts in Volusia County and familiarity with state education issues.
Andy Dance said that Tager had something of an advantage over the other candidates because he's close enough to Flagler to be exposed to local press stories about Flagler Schools matters such as the district's Flagship programs.
And, Dance said, "I believe him when he said this is the job that he wants. … I think his strength will be through his familiarity, and with knowing the programs that have moved us forward."
Dance said he'd spoken at length with Tager about leadership and that Tager had said he saw the need for a clear second-in-command, a position the district doesn't currently have.
School Board member Janet McDonald visited Tager at Atlantic High School.
"I think the comment that Mrs. Conklin said about relationships was evident," McDonald said. "Everyone there knew him; he knew them by name. He responded to teachers, students, preschoolers just beautifully."
School Board Chairman Trevor Tucker said he felt that Tager's strength would likely be working with people, and that his weakness would be finance.
"He answered the questions directly, which I really like," Tucker said.
At the May 2 meeting, Tucker and School Board Attorney Kristy Gavin were authorized to begin negotiations on a contract for Tager. The advertised salary was $125,000 to $149,000, based on experience.
— Brian McMillan contributed to this report.
