By Stephen Floyd
Former Silverton High School Principal Sione Thompson has resigned from his position as of April 2 to take the helm of a struggling charter school in Nevada.
The Silver Falls School District confirmed Thompson’s departure in a media release that day and said Assistant Principal Patrick Mulligan has stepped in as interim principal.
Mulligan is expected to serve through the remainder of the current school year. The district said it plans to hire a replacement principal by the 2024-2025 school year.
In the release, Assistant Superintendent Dan Busch said Thompson had been “an integral part of our community” and brought about positive changes through inspirational leadership. Busch also said the district is confident in Mulligan’s abilities to lead the school during the transition period.
Thompson was hired as SHS principal in 2021 and came to Silverton from Oahu, where he had been a regional superintendent for the Hawaii State Department of Education. Before that he was executive director of the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission.
As of April 4, Thompson is the executive director for TEACH Las Vegas, a public charter school established in 2021 serving elementary and middle school students.
According to The Las Vegas Review-Journal, the school has received poor reviews from state regulators for accountability and academic performance, and was delinquent last year by over $320,000 in public pension contributions. Former Executive Director Andrea Moore resigned suddenly Oct. 4, 2023, which was followed by mass staff resignations and a sharp drop in student enrollment, reported the newspaper.
The TEACH Las Vegas Board said Thompson was chosen because he “has expertise in school turnaround,” according to the contract with Thompson the board approved April 2.
In a statement on the school’s website, Thompson said his goal was to “foster a culture of excellence, equity, and innovation” with a commitment to “transparency, communication and accountability.”
Thompson departs SFSD amid its own administrative crisis, including a shortfall threatening June payroll, and the sudden resignation of former Superintendent Scott Drue March 13.
The district has brought on Willamette Education Service District Superintendent Joe Morelock as interim superintendent through June 30, and plans to select another interim July 1 until a permanent superintendent is hired.
