West High principal resigns

Following two trials in the past few years dealing with educators and sexual misconduct with students at West High School, the school's principal has resigned, Salt Lake School District officials said Tuesday.

Principal Margery Parker is transferring, at her own request, to Whittier Elementary School, said Salt Lake district spokesman Jason Olsen.

The elementary school is year-round, and Parker will begin work immediately. There will be no difference in salary, Olsen said.

"This is just a transfer of assignments," he said, adding that generally, there are up to seven such transfers each year in the district.

Parker did not return messages left Tuesday by the Deseret News. She worked at West High for nine years — four as assistant principal and five as principal.

Salt Lake district superintendent McKell Withers said Parker had talked with him several times during the last couple of years about transferring. He praised Parker for her hard work and lauded her for implementing innovative programs at West High.

Ken Grover, Salt Lake district's career and technical-education director and high-school support supervisor, will serve as acting principal of West High.

District officials began a search to fill the vacant position Tuesday, advertising nationally.

A committee consisting of teachers, students and parents will interview top applicants and recommend finalists for the superintendent to review. His choice will be recommended to the school board for a vote.

District officials hope to have a new hire by August. West High's first day of school is Aug. 25.

The beginning salary for the job is $85,000. The position requires an administrative license, which applicants typically earn with a master's degree. Eight years of experience in a school setting is required.

West High is the oldest public school in Utah. It has an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students.

Demographically, it is 43 percent Caucasian, 37 percent Hispanic, 8 percent Asian, 5 percent African-American, 4 percent Pacific Islander, 2 percent Native American and 1 percent other.

"Some of the biggest challenges and biggest opportunities come from the diversity of the student body at West High," Olsen said.

West High was the first school in Utah to launch the International Baccalaureate program, which concentrates on critical-thinking skills and earns the students special recognition on their diploma.

The inner-city school made adequate yearly progress for the federal mandate No Child Left Behind last year, according to district officials.

History teacher Jose Fanjul, 46, has been on unpaid administrative leave since September, when he was accused of sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old female student. He was acquitted of all charges last week.

Marco Herrera, 54, a former school counselor, is in prison after he pleaded guilty to engaging in illegal sexual activity with the same West High girl in 2007.

e-mail: astewart@desnews.com