By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Superintendent of Education Dr. Michele Collier was full of good news during the Escambia County Board of Education meeting held last Thursday, December 12, the board’s last regular scheduled session of 2024.
Dr. Collier gave formal recognition, and a packed meeting room at the Atmore Central Office showed its appreciation with applause and a few yells, to the top teachers for each of the system’s 13 schools or sub-schools (two teachers were selected from Pollard McCall).
Stephanie Buitron, who earlier this year became the first recipient of a new Hall of Fame award at Escambia County High School (ECHS), was recognized as the school’s Teacher of the Year (TOY), while Rachel Hadley was named top teacher at A.C. Moore Primary.
Latoshia Woods was selected TOY for Huxford Elementary (HES); April George was the honoree from Rachel Patterson Elementary (RPES); and Sarah Chavers was named top teacher at Escambia County Middle (ECMS).
Top teachers for the schools outside the Atmore area were Kimberly Hester (Flomaton Elementary); Jacqi Hammond (Flomaton High); Traci Ward (Pollard McCall, K-5); Tyler Parker (Pollard McCall, 6-8); Robin Brown (Career Readiness Center); Desi Lee (W.S. Neal High); Tiffany Hammac (W.S. Neal Elementary); Bailey Johnson (W.S. Neal Middle).
HES Principal Leah Fuqua’s school scored highest (82, up from 79) among the four local schools at which students at various grade levels were tested for state report cards. Fuqua, who is credited with remaking the rural school’s educational approach, received a hearty ovation as she went to the front of the meeting room with Woods.
Fuqua is the only principal among those from the four Atmore-area schools who was already top administrator at her school when the standardized tests on which the report cards are based were administered in 2023.
Jennifer Lee, in her first year at the RPES helm, joined her school’s TOY as Dr. Collier announced that the school’s report card grade increased from 76 to 78. Layton Knight, who spent several months as interim principal at ECHS last year and is in his first year at ECMS, couldn’t be at the meeting because he was receiving his degree in Public Education Administration at the same time. Yolanda Walters accepted the TOY certificate for Chavers, who was also unable to attend.
Dr. Shawaungela DeLoach joined Hadley. DeLoach began the year as an assistant principal at RPES before being named to replace Amber Dunaway at ACMP, which does not receive a report card.
The only school with a “bad” grade was Escambia County High School, which has remained on the state’s “failing schools” list for several years. ECHS saw its score plummet from last year’s 65, to a 59.
ECHS’s Latonya Gill is also a first-year principal. She is ECHS’s fourth chief administrator since Dennis Fuqua left in 2019 and has reportedly implemented several programs, procedures and protocols designed to help restore discipline within the school and turn the state report card score around.
Overall, the Escambia County District scored an 83 and showed 96.4-percent growth, Dr. Collier pointed out, also noting that the county’s 2023 systemwide graduation rate was 89.63 percent.
The superintendent also praised Huxford Elementary Literacy Specialist Connie Hetrick, who recently earned National Board Certification.
During the business portion of the meeting, BOE members:
*Approved a contract with Walker Construction for repairs to the soffit and eaves at Rachel Patterson Elementary School (not to exceed $50,000).
*Approved the opening of a local school bank account for A.C. Moore Primary (ACMP) after Dr. Collier reported that ACMP is now recognized as a traditional school, with a principal and bookkeeper.
*Adopted the school system’s new, shorter mission statement: “The mission of Escambia County Schools is to provide learners with opportunities to graduate college- and/or career-ready.”
*Approved the replacement of an unnamed employee on the science textbook adoption committee.
*Approved a contract with PowerSchool Group LLC for PowerSchool Enrollment Registration (cost: $16,862.96) and PowerSchool Schoology End User Support ($11,018.70). The program, which serves as the system’s portal to student registration, will be paid for with funds from an At-Risk High Hopes grant.
*Approved another revision of the salary schedule to account for supplements to nurses who also maintain the paperwork at each school, and to part-time interventionists.
*Approved Chief Schools Financial Officer Avery Ford as an authorized signer on all school system bank accounts and the bank accounts of each local school.
*Announced that the first regular meeting of 2025 will be conducted at 4:30 p.m. on January 23, at the Atmore Central Office.
After a lengthy executive session to consider the sale of a tract of school system property and to discuss the good name and character of an individual, including “safety and security issues,” the board — at board member Sherry Digmon’s request — agreed to resume the recording of BOE sessions. After BOE President Coleman Wallace (District 7) asked why the meetings should be recorded, Digmon asked why they shouldn’t be. There was no vote on the measure, but the board generally agreed to record board meetings.
Dr. Collier suggested creating a YouTube channel for Escambia, so videos could be posted. She also offered to livestream the meeting so interested parties could view it live when they cannot attend due to time or location.
Personnel
The following abbreviations are used:
Escambia County Board of Education – ECBOE
A.C. Moore Primary School – ACMPS
Huxford Elementary School – HES
Rachel Patterson Elementary School – RPES
Escambia County Middle School – ECMS
Escambia County High School – ECHS
Flomaton Elementary School – FES
Flomaton High School – FHS
Pollard McCall Junior High School – PMJHS
W.S. Neal Elementary School – WSNES
W.S. Neal Middle School – WSNMS
W.S. Neal High School – WSNHS
Escambia County Alternative School – ECAS
Atmore Bus Shop – ABS
Resignation
1. Stephanie Alaniz, lead nurse, ECBOE, effective Jan. 3, 2025
2. Lisa Robbins, 7-hour lunchroom worker, ACMPS, effective Dec. 20, 2024
3. Kelly McNeil, special education teacher, ECMS, effective Dec. 20, 2024
4. Shykeeliah Collins, elementary teacher, RPES, effective Dec. 6, 2024
Employment
1. Ajene Holmes, career coach, ECBOE, effective Jan. 6, 2025
2. Hugh Jones, math teacher, ECHS, Jan. 6, 2025, replacing David Belanger
3. Brandaun Love, construction technology CTE teacher, ECHS, effective Dec. 16, 2024, replacing Jason Blackwell
4. Anthony Buchanan, special education aide, ECHS, effective Jan. 6, 2025
5. Tiffany Pettis, custodian, FHS, effective Dec. 13, 2024, replacing Skye Ramsey
6. Carol Hughes, elementary teacher, RPES, effective Jan. 6, 2025, replacing Jennifer Kirkpatrick
7. Katherine Sellers, elementary teacher, RPES, effective Jan. 6, 2025, replacing Julie Rowland
8. Hannah McFerrin, elementary teacher, WSNES, effective Jan. 6, 2025, replacing Mallorie Johnson
9. James Smith, bus driver, ABS, effective Jan. 6, 2025, replacing Larry Zangas
10. David Respress, bus driver, ABS, effective Jan. 6, 2025, replacing James Scruggs
Rehire
1. Tawana Jones, ELA teacher, ECHS, effective Jan. 6, 2025, replacing Nakiedra Brown
2. Tracey Padgett, instructional aide, FES, effective Dec. 16, 2024
3. Sharon Rose, bus driver, ABS, effective Jan. 1, 2025, replacing Sharon Rose
After school employment
All after school program
1. Emily Lindsay, teacher, FES, effective Dec. 6, 2024
2. Kimberly Flores, teacher, FES, effective Dec. 6, 2024
3. Whitney Kelley, teacher, FES, Dec. 6, 2024
4. Michelle Brantley, nurse, FES, effective Aug. 6, 2024
5. Rebekah Fore, nurse, FHS, effective Aug. 6, 2024
6. Kate Kiser, teacher, FHS, effective Nov. 5, 2024
7. Lori Brown, bus monitor, FHS, effective Dec. 13, 2024
8. Alice Stewart, nurse, PMJHS, effective Aug. 6, 2024
9. Rebekah Dyess, teacher, WSNES, effective Dec. 17, 2024
10. Aubrina Washington Bowens, teacher, WSNHS, effective Dec. 16, 2024
Leave of absence
1. Kelly McNeil, teacher, ECMS, Nov. 4, 2024 – Dec. 2, 2024
2. Kimberly Ward, 7-hour lunchroom worker, HES, Sept. 5, 2024 – Nov. 7, 2024
Transfer
1. Nicole Jones, counselor, from Flomaton Middle / Alternative Schools, effective Jan. 6, 2025, to Escambia Alternative Schools