By SHERRY DIGMON
News Publisher
Escambia County (Ala.) school employees are scheduled to received state-mandated pay raises October 1, but at a special meeting June 8, the board of education approved a recommendation by Superintendent John Knott that raises begin with the employees’ contract year. Knott said the action was a way for the board to show their appreciation to employees who have worked through a challenging year.
Also at that meeting, Knott amended his retirement date from July 31, 2021, to August 31, 2021, to allow the board and the Alabama Association of School Boards, which is assisting in the superintendent search, more time to complete the search and selection process.
The following personnel recommendations by Superintendent Knott were approved by the board.
Leave of absence
1. Sherry Atkins, 7-hour lunchroom worker, Pollard McCall Junior High School, medical leave of absence, effective March 3, 2021 through May 12, 2021
2. Kathy Steadham, custodian, Turtle Point Science Center, leave of absence under the Family Medical Leave Act, effective February 26, 2021 through May 31, 2021
Resignation
1. Victoria Jones, 6-hour lunchroom worker, Escambia County High School, effective May 20, 2021
2. Ashley Trawick, counselor, Escambia County High School, effective July 1, 2021
3. Brandy Turner, elementary teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective May 21, 2021
4. Jillian Jewell, elementary teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective May 21, 2021
5. Leah Herrington, elementary teacher, Flomaton Elementary School, effective May 21, 2021
6. Jennifer C. Fox, elementary teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective May 21, 2021
7. Sara Smith, LPN / instructional aide, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective May 21, 2021
8. Damien Jackson, special education instructional aide, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective May 21, 2021
9. Lisa Rushing, assistant principal, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective June 3, 2021
10. Anthony Wald, science teacher, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective May 21, 2021
11. James Free, career preparedness teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective May 21, 2021
12. Holly Pettis, English language arts teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective June 3, 2021
13. Darin Peebles, mechanic, Atmore bus shop, effective May 14, 2021
14. Albert Grassia, technology technician, ECS Technology Department, effective May 25, 2021
15. Floyd Wilson, part-time custodian, Atmore Central Office, effective May 19, 2021
16. Kristal Wardrop, board minutes secretary, Brewton Central Office, effective August 31, 2021
17. Ana-Marie Rowell, teacher aide, Academic Recovery Response Plan Summer Program, Huxford Elementary School, effective May 13, 2021
Retirement
1. John Knott, superintendent, Escambia County Board of Education, effective August 31, 2021 (amended date)
Transfer
1. Winter Sims, special education teacher, Alternative School, to special education teacher, Escambia County High School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Rosa Howard)
2. George Brown, principal, Flomaton Elementary School, to principal, Flomaton High School, effective July 1, 2021 (replacing Scott Hammond) with approval for the superintendent to provide an upward adjustment in salary commensurate with the FHS principal position.
3. Amanda Crowder, elementary teacher, Escambia County Middle School, to elementary teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Angela Davis)
4. Jacquita Jenkins, special education teacher, Escambia County Middle School, to special education teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (Replacing Larissa Goodrich)
5. Tamara Banks, Special Education Teacher, Escambia County Middle School, to Special Education Teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Karyn Orellana)
6. Megan Donald, elementary teacher, W.S. Neal Middle School, to elementary teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (Replacing Alice Wolters)
Employment
1. Kelli Stuckey, business office clerk, Escambia County Board of Education, Brewton Central Office, effective June 1, 2021
2. April Lucas, board minutes secretary, Brewton Central Office, effective June 1, 2021 (replacing Kristal Wardrop)
3. Collin Lashley, counselor, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Marlo Young)
4. Brett Amos, elementary teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Karie Richburg)
5. Cindy Davis, special education teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Emily Lindsay)
6. Lauren Darden, elementary teacher, Flomaton Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Leah Herrington)
7. Brooke Gafford, elementary teacher, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Kathleen Camp)
8. Kimberly Ward, 7-hour lunchroom worker, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Joann Boatwright)
9. Tanya Massingill, teacher aide, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Debbie Coleman)
10. Tyshawn Davis, career preparedness teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing James Free)
11. Joseph Burleson, social studies teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing David Bodiford)
12. Jesse Rowlen, science teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Ryan Coleman)
13. Steve White, mechanic, Atmore Bus Shop, effective June 7, 2021 (replacing Darin Peebles)
14. Travis Kelley, technology technician, ECS Technology Department, effective June 21, 2021 (Replacing Albert Grassia)
15. Angela Wright, teacher, Summer Program, Office of Special Education and Student Services, effective June 9, 2021 (Academic Recovery Response Plan)
16. Summer maintenance custodians (Academic Recovery Response Plan):
* Escambia County Middle School – James Williams
* Huxford Elementary School – Rhonda Cooper
* WS Neal Middle School – Jason Thomas
* Turtle Point Science Center – Taylor Barton
17. Student summer workers (Academic Recovery Response Plan):
* Flomaton Elementary School – Cyrus Brown / Erin Davidson
* Flomaton High School – Benjamin Boutwell
* Huxford Elementary School – Jakob Coker (Local School Funds)
* Atmore Bus Shop – Lajavius Johnson
18. 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 – administrator: Randall Jackson
* Escambia County Middle School – Administrator: Yolonda Walters, Heather Cook (sub); teachers: Murraylee Gonzalez, Deborah Salyers, Lauren Kirn
* Flomaton Elementary School – administrator: Amber Leigh Ann Rowland
* Flomaton High School – administrator: Ashley Mosley; teachers: Philip Bell, Karl Smith
* Huxford Elementary School – lead teacher: Rebecca Murray (dates not to coincide with additional counselor working days under ARRP); teacher aides: Anna Nelson, Deborah Peterson
* Pollard McCall Junior High School – lead teacher: Leketha Bradley (dates not to coincide with additional counselor working days under ARRP); teacher aides: Katrina Anthony
* Rachel Patterson Elementary School – lead teacher: Shannon Martin; teachers: Mary Figgers, Jennifer Brewton, April George; teachers (subs): Jessica Lockett; teacher aides: Verinece Dailey, Doris Johnson, Ryan Dean
* W.S. Neal Elementary School – administrator: Elizabeth Andrews
* W.S. Neal Middle School – lead teacher: Jennifer Blaney
* W.S. Neal High School – administrator: Junia Fischer
* Brewton Bus Shop – bus drivers: Andrew Mohling, Angela Hiers, Quincy Nearer, Pamela Sheets, Nicole Watson, Lorrie Benton
* Atmore Bus Shop – bus drivers: Lisa Biggs, Iva Burkett, Kristofer Worth, Ronald Davis, Melvin Byrd, Nanci Kent, Douglas Frost
* Registered nurses (RN) / licensed practical nurse (LPN) aides
Stephanie Alaniz (RN), Michelle Brantley (RN), Summer Benton (RN), Dana Boggs (LPN)
19. Title I Jump Start Enrichment Programs Personnel (Academic Recovery Response Plan):
* Rachel Patterson Elementary School – teacher aides: Angelica Clack, Jacob Middleton, Vonda Bynum
* W.S. Neal Elementary School – teacher aides: Peggy Diane Nelson
* Brewton Bus Shop – bus driver: Lorrie Benton
* Atmore Bus Shop – bus driver: Toni Marmino
20. Summer Feeding Program – CNP (Academic Response Recovery Plan)
* Escambia County High School – managers: Cynthia Young, Rita Jones (sub); workers: Rita Jones
* Escambia County Middle School – managers: Rebecca Boutwell; workers: Joseph Faulk, Linda Thomas
* Flomaton Elementary / High School – managers: Chelsea Lowell, Ashley Riley (sub); workers: Lisa Jones, Carolina Coleman, Ashley Riley, Devony Bowden (sub)
* Huxford Elementary School – managers: Susan Johnson
* Rachel Patterson Elementary School – managers: Brenda Watkins; workers: Cheryl Shoemake
* W.S. Neal Elementary / Middle School – managers: Janice Salter; workers: Mary Sheffield, Minnie Hassell (sub)
* W.S. Neal High School – managers: Vanessa Mealer; workers: Brenda Samuel, Tonya Howard
Employment change
1. Lorri Tolbert, custodian (202 contract days), Huxford Elementary School, to 7-hour lunchroom worker (185 contract days), Huxford Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Quaunhntel Hill)
2. Kristie Harris, teacher, Academic Recovery Response Plan Summer Program, to Teacher, Title I Jump Start Summer Program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective May 26, 2021
3. Cynthia Clack, teacher aide, to, substitute teacher aide, Academic Recovery Response Plan Summer Program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective May 26, 2021
Temporary employment
1. Melva Salter, temporary / part-time office aide, Brewton Central Office – Business Office, effective June 1, 2021 through July 15, 2021 (Academic Recovery Response Plan)