From the time he arrived at 6:15 a.m., interim principal Dee Palmore worked to make sure the school functions correctly. From meetings to keeping students in line, Palmore got the job done. This was nothing new for the new principal.

Palmore felt that the teaching staff and students were accepting of him as principal and they started the year working hard. “We have issues here and there, but our kids are doing well,” Palmore said.

“We have some new rules and guidelines, and now students have academics on their mind.”

Before becoming the principal, Palmore had other duties. He was at Rider from 1989-2001. Then he changed campuses as an administrator. ”I took a trip across the district,” Palmore said. “I guess you could say I’m back home.” Palmore was a principal at Kirby Jr. High and Harrell Accelerated Learning Center.

Then he led with the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Placement (JJAEP). Before he made his return he was the vice principal of Old High.

“Ms. McDonald retired and I think the timing wasn’t so great to have an application processes. I was at Wichita Falls High School at the time and I got a phone call from the superintendent,” Palmore said.

Palmore said that he was asked to come to Rider on an interim basis. Palmore wasn’t the official principal at the beginning of the year, but he served in the same manner. He hoped to stay at Rider.

Even though Mr. Palmore has worked at multiple schools in his time he has the same mindset for all of them.

“There’s not a huge difference in schools,” he said. “They have great students and we do too. It’s just a different campus and home a student body is a student body.”