Headlines News

Searching for a superintendent

By SHERRY DIGMON

News Publisher

The Escambia County Board of Education has begun the search for a superintendent in the wake of John Knott’s announcement that he will retire as superintendent July 31.

The board voted at the May 13 meeting to enter into an agreement with Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) to provide services in support of the search for a new superintendent. AASB provides three levels of services in this type of search – silver, gold, platinum. The board voted to engage AASB at the Gold Service Tier which is provided for $8,900 plus travel and other expense cost.

AASB will provide the following:

* Advertise the search statewide and recruit candidates

* Survey the community on desired superintendent qualities and skills

* Publish a descriptive brochure

* Utilize a communication style assessment to assist with candidate screening

* Receive and screen applications

* Respond to inquiries regarding the vacancy

* Check credentials and references

* Schedule interview dates with finalists

* Notify candidates who were not selected as finalists

* Provide interview guide for boards

* Facilitate, within 90 days of the superintendent taking office, a discussion of board and superintendent communication styles, school system goals,

and the method that will be used to evaluate the superintendent

* Conduct up to six meetings with constituent groups

* Present analysis of community feedback during board meeting or work session

* Facilitate board meeting or work session to finalize a profile of the desired leader

In other business, the board approved the following personnel recommendations by Superintendent Knott.

Leave of absence

1. Michelle Uriegas, special education teacher, Escambia County Middle School, one-year leave of absence for the 2021-2022 school year

Resignation

1. Stewart Powell, principal, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective July 30, 2021

Retirement

1. Rodney Owens, agriscience teacher, Escambia County High School, effective July 1, 2021

2. Kathy Steadham, custodian, Turtle Point Science Center, effective June 1, 2021

Transfer

1. Karie Richburg, elementary teacher, Escambia County Middle School, to Elementary Teacher, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Connie Hale)

2. Melanie Kent, special education teacher, Pollard McCall Junior High School, to special education teacher, Flomaton Elementary teacher, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Summer Patterson)

3. Pamela Iutzi, custodian, Huxford Elementary School, to custodian, Flomaton Elementary School, effective August 2, 2021

4. Matthew Mize, horticulture / agriscience instructor, Escambia Career Readiness Center, to agriscience teacher, Escambia County High School, effective July 26, 2021 (replacing Rodney Owens)

Employment

1. Rhecy Currie, elementary teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective February 18, 2021 (amended date)

2. Baylie Smith, kindergarten teacher, Flomaton Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Brittany Brown)

3. Brandy Lassiter, elementary teacher, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing John Russell Smith)

4. MacKenzie Evans, elementary teacher, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021

5. Hillary Shaughnessy, special education teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Eva Cheyanne Wilson)

6. Gregory Ennis, social studies teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Christopher Davis)

7. Wyatt Oliver, HVAC / electrician, Atmore Maintenance Department, effective June 1, 2021 (replacing Dudley Fountain)

8. Connie Reeves, instructional technology resource teacher, Atmore Central Office, to work up to an additional 20 off contract days during summer 2021 in accordance with the Academic Recovery Response Plan (to be paid at her daily rate)

9. Summer maintenance custodians (Academic Recovery Response Plan):

* Escambia County High School – Brandon Stophel / Odia Berry

* Flomaton High School – Sharie Evans / Jill Byrd

* Pollard McCall Junior High School – Ernest Digmon

* W.S. Neal Elementary School –  Samuel Wright

* Escambia Career Readiness Center – Haley Black

10. Student summer workers (Academic Recovery Response Plan):

* Escambia County High School – Darron Nichols / Breanna McGowan

* Flomaton High School – William Crutchfield

* Escambia Career Readiness Center – Lee Heath

11. Academic Recovery Response Plan summer programs personnel: Staffing work schedules will be based on student enrollment, student attendance, and need for student academic support.

* Escambia County High School

Teachers: Priscilla Garror, Barbara Whatley, Stephanie Spicer, Roland Hall

* Escambia County Middle School

Teachers: Marcia Adams, Rhecy Currie

* Flomaton Elementary School

Teachers: Sydney Lambeth, Meghan Mayo, Summer Patterson, Luanne Henderson,

Shawna Fillmore, Wesley Sessions;

Teachers (subs): Leah Vickery, Mitzi Smith;

Teacher aides: Anna Grace White, Shelbi Dove, Courtney Johnson, Sophia Faulk,

Tori Chavers, Chandler McBride

* Flomaton High School

Teachers: Kimberly Nevels, Jeffrey Haney, Julie Newton, Jessica Green, Karen Andrews, Alison Britt

* Huxford Elementary School

Teachers: Lora Matheny, Betsy Watson, Tiffany Hammac, John Smith, Amanda Strawbridge, Tara Ikner;

Teachers (Subs): Magen Baggett;

Teacher aides: Ana-Marie Rowell, Lillian Dean, Callie Chavers, Karen Coker

* Pollard McCall Junior High School

Teachers: Virginia Parker, Tristan Fore, Heather Kirkland;

Teacher aides: Amber Carpenter, Lillie Jones, April Blackwell

* Rachel Patterson Elementary School

Teachers: Caroline Hughes, Brian Stallworth, Melissa Nichols, Kristie Harris,

Julie McDonald;

Teacher aides: Karen Hubert-Frye, Deloris Johnson, Patricia Respress, Helen Thomas, Cynthia Clack

* W.S. Neal Elementary School

Teachers: William Shell, Laurel Billy, Casey Lodge, Britney Shelly,

Megan Moye, Gloria Hill, Kimberly Bright, Brittany Revel, Kelli Grace,                                  Micah Brown, Virginia Steadham;           

Teacher aides: Dalton Shell, Pamela Driskell, Cimmaron Wilson, Hillary Durden,

Alexandra Moulder, Whitney Cross, Jennings Hobbs, Rachel Wood, Courtney Madden, Rebekah Turner, Melissa Cosey

* W.S. Neal Middle School

Teachers: Ashley Knowles, Erin Howard, Sandra Barrow, Tammy Bonds

* W.S. Neal High School

Teachers: Daniel Hodge, Duree  Langham, Allie Rush

12. Title I Jump Start Enrichment Programs’ Personnel (Academic Recovery Response Plan):          

* Flomaton Elementary School

Teachers: Amanda Waguespack,  Leslie Wedgeworth;

Teacher aides: Melanie Rowland, Brittany Lambeth, Mattie Bailey;

Custodian: Elizabeth Wilson

* Pollard McCall Junior High School

Custodian: Kenya Carroll

* Rachel Patterson Elementary School

Custodian: Suzette Barron

* W.S. Neal Elementary School

Teachers: Tracy McCurdy, Margo Nordmeyer-Adams, Nicole Yoder;

Teacher aides: Margaret Adams, Jessica Godwin, Fabiola Jones;

Custodian: Doris Watson, Jefferson Haughton (sub)

13. Counselors approved to work up to an additional 20 off contract days (Academic Recovery Response Plan) (to be paid at their daily rate):

* Escambia County High School – Ashley Trawick

* Escambia County Middle School – Jawuan Osborne

* Flomaton Elementary School – Sharmon O’Bannon

* Flomaton High School – DeAnna Ross

* Huxford Elementary School – Rebecca Murray

* Pollard McCall Junior High School – Leketha Bradley

* Rachel Patterson Elementary School – Teresa Crayton

* W.S. Neal Elementary School – Tonya Ragan

* W.S. Neal Middle School – Julie Clifton

* W.S. Neal High School – Annette Long

Employment change

1. Connie Hetrick, elementary teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, to ARI reading specialist, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Lora Matheny)

Termination

1. Amelia Betts, 6-hour lunchroom worker, Escambia County Middle School, termination of employment, effective May 13, 2021