BOE hires 3 principals
By SHERRY DIGMON
News Publisher
Big news came out of the Escambia County Board of Education meeting Thursday, June 18.
Superintendent John Knott said the system’s schools will open Friday, August 7 – in classrooms.
“We are in the process of developing complex plans for our faculty, staff and students,” Knott said Monday. “We’ll have a lot of provisions in place and plans for contingencies if needed.”
Knott said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey is expected to make an announcement about public schools later this week and the Alabama Department of Public Health next week.
Also at the meeting, the board hired three principals for area schools – Toya Bullard-McMillian, Rachel Patterson Elementary School; Leah Fuqua, Huxford Elementary School; and TaKecia Barlow, Escambia County Middle School.
In a way, Toya McMillian is “going home” when she returns to Rachel Patterson, having served as assistant principal there.
McMillian holds degrees and certification from Alabama Southern Community College, Auburn University at Montgomery, Troy State University, Alabama State University, and University of West Alabama.
She worked as a kindergarten teacher in the Monroe County school system and came to Atmore in 2012 to serve as Rachel Patterson assistant principal until 2015 when she went to Escambia County Middle School as assistant principal.
Leah Fuqua holds degrees and certification from Auburn University, Auburn University at Montgomery, and the University of South Alabama.
She began her career in education at Beulah Academy of Science in Pensacola as Dean of Special Education and Student Services. From 2004 to 2015, she was a special ed teacher at Pollard-McCall Junior High School, then served as assistant principal and literacy coach at Brewton Middle School.
TaKecia Barlow holds degrees and certification from Talladega College, Alabama State University and Auburn University at Montgomery.
In addition to being a motivational speaker since 2001, she has worked for the Montgomery Public School System since 2013, in administrative positions including her most recent as assistant principal at Jefferson Davis High School, 2015 – present. Barlow’s awards include 2016 Admirable Administrator Award, 2017 Outstanding Administrator Award, and 2018-19 Assistant Principal of the Year.
The board also approved the following personnel recommendations by Superintendent Knott.
Leave of absence
- Damien Jackson, special education instructional aide, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective August 3, 2020 through December 31, 2020
Resignation - Amber Waters, elementary teacher, Huxford Elementary School, effective June 12, 2020
- Christine Lewis, speech language pathologist, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020
- Teralyn Kast, science teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective June 17, 2020
- Latisha Hall, bus driver, Brewton bus shop, effective July 1, 2020
Retirement - Lottie Cole, school bookkeeper, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective April 1, 2020
- Kimberly Eddins, social studies teacher, Escambia County High School, effective July 1, 2020
Transfer - Leketha Bradley, counselor (202 contract days), W.S. Neal High School, to counselor (187 contract days), Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective August 3, 2020 (replacing Jennifer Hall)
Employment change - Toya McMillian, assistant principal, Escambia County Middle School, to principal, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020 (replacing John Brantley)
- Misty Joyner, office aide, W.S. Neal Elementary School, to school secretary / bookkeeper, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective July 20, 2020 (replacing Lottie Cole)
- Sabrina Wilson, assistant principal, Flomaton High School, to principal, Escambia Career Readiness Center, effective July 1, 2020 (replacing Spencer Todd Williamson)
- Amber Leigh Ann Rowland, principal (240 contract days), Huxford Elementary School, to elementary teacher (187 contract days), Escambia County Middle School, effective August 3, 2020 (replacing Marsha Wilson)
Temporary employment - Elizabeth Tucker, teacher, Kindergarten Screening, Huxford Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020 and June 25, 2020
- Amanda Strawbridge, teacher, Kindergarten Screening, Huxford Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020 and June 25, 2020
- Deborah Peterson, teacher aide, Kindergarten Screening, Huxford Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020 and June 25, 2020
- Amy Bell, teacher, Kindergarten Screening, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective June 24, 2020 and June 25, 2020
Employment - Ziah Young, elementary teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 3, 2020 (replacing Sharyn Wilson)
- TaKecia Barlow, principal, Escambia County Middle School, effective July 1, 2020 (replacing Deborah Bolden)
- Leah Fuqua, principal, Huxford Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020 (replacing Leigh Ann Rowland)
- Tristan Fore, science teacher, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective August 3, 2020 (replacing Gary Kevin Knowles)
- Rebekah Turner, speech language pathologist, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective August 3, 2020 (replacing Sheila Fountain)
- Emily Monson, assistant band director, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective August 3, 2020 (replacing James Rogers)
- Emily Daly, science teacher, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective August 3, 2020 (replacing Randall Ray Patterson)
- Anne Catherine Campbell, math teacher, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective August 3, 2020 (replacing Shelby McCrory)
- Allison Svoboda, physical education teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective August 3, 2020 (replacing Joseph Nettles)
- Tyler Reeves, social studies teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective August 3, 2020 (replacing Stephen Landrum)
- Junia Fischer, assistant principal, W.S. Neal High School, effective July 23, 2020 (replacing Coy Campbell)
- Thomas Lambeth, general maintenance worker, Brewton Maintenance Department, effective June 22, 2020 (replacing David Blackmon)
- Angela Hiers, bus driver, Brewton bus shop, effective August 5, 2020 (replacing Deborah Jackson)
- Stephanie Spicer, teacher, Title I summer program, Escambia County High School, effective June 8, 2020
- Barbara Whatley, teacher, Title I summer program, Escambia County High School, effective June 8, 2020
- Jenny Engle, teacher, Title I summer program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020
- Sydney Lambeth, Teacher, Title I summer program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020
- Ashley Mosley, Teacher, Title I summer program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020
- Gina Nall, Teacher, Title I summer program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020
- Robyn Hardy, substitute teacher, Title I Summer Program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective July 6, 2020
- DeAnna Ross, teacher, Title I summer program, Flomaton High School, effective June 4, 2020
- Sharon Morgan, teacher, Title I summer program, Flomaton High School, effective June 4, 2020
- Jeff Haney, teacher, Title I summer program, Flomaton High School, effective June 4, 2020
- Philip Bell, teacher, Title I summer program, Flomaton High School, effective June 4, 2020
- Heather Kirkland, teacher, Title I summer program, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective June 24, 2020
- Lillie Jones, teacher aide, Title I summer program, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective July 1, 2020
- Jessica Lockett, teacher, Title I summer program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020
- Shaneise Ezell, teacher, Title I summer program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020
- Kimberly Collins-Bright, teacher, Title I summer program, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020
- Malary Salter, teacher, Title I summer program, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020
- Amanda McKenzie, teacher, Title I summer program, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020
- Casey Lodge, teacher, Title I summer program, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020
- Margaret Adams, teacher aide, Title I summer program, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020
- Hillary Durden, teacher aide, Title I summer program, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective July 1, 2020
- Leketha Bradley, teacher, Title I summer program, W.S. Neal High School, effective June 15, 2020
- Duree Langham, teacher, Title I summer program, W.S. Neal High School, effective June 8, 2020
- Elizabeth Taylor, special education teacher, Extended Special Education Services, Escambia County Middle School, Pollard McCall Junior High School and Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective June 8, 2020
- Allison Jackson, special education teacher, Extended Special Education Services, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective June 9, 2020
- Leah Vickery, teacher, Title I Jumpstart program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Chelsea Turner, teacher, Title I Jumpstart program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Whitney Grimes, teacher aide, Title I Jumpstart program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Shelbi Dove, teacher aide, Title I Jumpstart program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Tori Chavers, teacher aide, Title I Jumpstart program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Elizabeth Wilson, custodian, Title I Jumpstart program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective July 6, 2020
- Kristie Harris, teacher, Title I Jumpstart program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Kathleen Camp, teacher, Title I Jumpstart program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Debra Smith, teacher aide, Title I Jumpstart program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Vonda Bynum, teacher aide, Title I Jumpstart program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Suzette Barron, custodian, Title I Jumpstart program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective July 6, 2020
- Billy Laurel, teacher, Title I Jumpstart program, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Katie Sirmon, teacher, Title I Jumpstart program, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Margo Nordmeyer-Adams, teacher, Title I Jumpstart program, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Kristin Burkett, teacher aide, Title I Jumpstart program, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Pamela Driskell, teacher aide, Title I Jumpstart program, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Peggy Diane Nelson, teacher aide, Title I Jumpstart program, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Cimmaron Wilson, teacher aide, Title I Jumpstart program, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective June 24, 2020
- Toni Marmino, bus driver, Title I Jumpstart program, Atmore Bus Shop, effective July 6, 2020
- Lorrie Benton, bus driver, Title I Jumpstart program, Brewton Bus Shop, effective July 6, 2020
- Jean Chaloux, summer maintenance custodian, Escambia County High School, effective June 15, 2020
- Brandon Stophel, summer maintenance custodian, Escambia County High School, effective June 15, 2020
- Breanna McGowen, student summer worker, Escambia County High School, effective June 8, 2020
- Darren Nichols, student summer worker, Escambia County High School, effective June 8, 2020
- James Williams, summer Maintenance Custodian, Escambia County Middle School, effective June 15, 2020
- Deverick Williams, summer maintenance custodian, Flomaton Elementary School, effective June 8, 2020
- Jill Byrd, summer maintenance custodian, Flomaton High School, effective June 15, 2020
- Jodie Salazar, summer maintenance custodian, Flomaton High School, effective June 15, 2020
- Sharie Evans, substitute summer maintenance custodian, Flomaton High School, effective June 15, 2020
- Lora Matheny, summer maintenance custodian, Huxford Elementary School, effective June 8, 2020
- Trevor White, summer maintenance custodian, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective June 8, 2020
- Ezekiel Smith, summer maintenance custodian, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective June 8, 2020
- Jason Thomas, summer maintenance custodian, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective June 15, 2020
- Asia Davis, student summer worker, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective June 8, 2020
- Carol Kay Woodcock, summer maintenance custodian, W.S. Neal High School, effective June 8, 2020
- Tonya Howard, summer maintenance custodian, W.S. Neal High School, effective June 16, 2020
- James Hurley, summer maintenance custodian, W.S. Neal High School, effective June 18, 2020
- CNP summer meal program at Flomaton High School effective July 6, 2020 through July 23, 2020:
Brenda Watkins, manager, week of July 6, 2020 – July 9, 2020
Cynthia Young, manager, week of July 13, 2020 – July 16, 2020
Susan Johnson, manager, week of July 20, 2020 – July 23, 2020
Rebecca Boutwell, substitute manager
Tonya Howard, worker
Rita Jones, worker
Ashley Riley, worker
Alyssa Williams, worker
Laila Warren, substitute worker
Joni Simpson, substitute worker
Faith Oglesbee, substitute worker
Sherry Atkins, substitute worker
Minnie Hassell, substitute worker
Vanessa Mealer, substitute worker