Warren East High School Principal Damon Tabor, a veteran educator who has enjoyed success as a coach and as a school administrator, has announced plans to retire from public education after the current school year. Tabor has spent 35 years in education, the last three as WEHS principal. Before his tenure at Warren East, Tabor spent nine years as principal at Rockfield Elementary (1999-2008). After a brief retirement, he coached the Warren Central High School girls’ basketball team for two seasons and then took the job as WEHS principal.
“I hope I have made a difference in the lives of students during my three years,” Tabor says. “The students and staff here are great and enjoyable to work with. My goal was to stay five or six years, but the new teacher evaluation system will create more paperwork and take me away from students. I believe that it’s important to be in the halls and classrooms talking with students. It’s part of a good school culture.”
Before becoming an administrator, Tabor had a successful run as a basketball coach in Simpson County. He coached five years in the Franklijn-Simpson High School boys’ basketball program and then spent 11 years as head coach of that school’s girls’ basketball team. He guided the Lady Wildcats to two Region 4 championships, advancing to a state runner-up finish in 1986 and reaching the state semifinals in 1987.
Tabor says his plans now are to do some volunteer work that he has always wanted to do and spend more time with his family. His retirement takes effect July 1.
