By Sherri Blevins
JACKSON CO. ALA- The Jackson County Board of Education met in its new home, the Kevin Dukes Career and Innovation Academy, on August 1, 2023, for its regular meeting.
President Chad Gorham presided over the meeting after calling for prayer and silent reflection. Several items were approved during the meeting’s general business portion, including the Declaration of Emergency and approval of the Change Order for the Stevenson Middle School Roof Project. The 2023-2024 Student Handbook and the contract terms with Mountain Lakes Behavioral Center for the sale of the Central Office property were accepted. Superintendent Davidson was authorized to execute an agreement with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to provide School Resource Officers for the system.
Several decisions involving professional development and curriculum materials were made, including the following:
• $167,000.00 to purchase the HRS Professional Development and certification for Marzano
• $136,000.00 to McGraw Hill to purchase literacy materials to supplement the ELA curriculum
• $65,000.00 to Marzano for Professional Development for District leaders
The Board approved a leave of absence for Karma Gilbert and family medical leaves for Jeri Brown and Keesha Lyons. Three resignations were also approved. Jody Wright resigned as a teacher at Hollywood, Jessica Bunch resigned as a county-wide instructional aide, and Colton Clines resigned as a teacher at EPCOT.
The following nine transfers were approved:
• Mallori Gorham, from Pre-K teacher at North Sand Mountain High School to elementary teacher at Dutton School
• Brooke Crawford, from the assistant principal at North Sand Mountain High School to the principal at North Sand Mountain High School
• April Greenway from an 8-hour custodian at Bridgeport Elementary School to a county-wide instructional aide (initially located at Bridgeport Elementary School)
• Job title change of Craig Robbins, Transportation and Operations Supervisor, to Assistant Superintendent. This change will encompass all present duties under the Transportation and Operations Supervisor job description and all additional duties listed in the Assistant Superintendent job description.
• Grace Anderson from part-time (not to exceed 50%) teacher to full-time elementary teacher at Bridgeport Elementary
• Gus Hembree from part-time teacher at Pisgah High School to STEM/Robotics teacher at Kevin Dukes Career & Innovation Academy
• Trina Henegar, from Pre-K teacher at Rosalie School to elementary teacher at Rosalie School
• Lisa Lee, from Pre-K teacher at Flat Rock School to Pre-K teacher at Rosalie School
• Shasta Barnes from Pre-K auxiliary teacher at Dutton School to Pre-K teacher at Flat Rock School (pending certification)
• Katelyn Bullock from a part-time (not to exceed 73%) teacher at Skyline High School to a full-time teacher at Skyline High School
Twenty-three new employee faces will be seen on campuses this fall with the addition of the following new hires:
• Keri Porter as an elementary teacher at Stevenson Elementary School
• Billie Burns as an 8-hour custodian at North Jackson High School
• Jeff White as a special education teacher at North Jackson High School, pending certification.
• Jimmy Whigham as a county-wide school bus driver (initially located at Hollywood School)
• Dawn Williams as an elementary teacher at Stevenson Elementary School
• Tanner McGill as a secondary social science teacher (pending certification) at Skyline High School
• Leah Putnam as a county-wide school bus driver (initially located at Bridgeport Elementary School)
• Matthew Ogle as an elementary teacher at North Sand Mountain High School
• Candace Lawson as an 8-hour custodian at North Sand Mountain High School
• Jill Mavity as an elementary teacher at Hollywood School
• Amanda Collins as a county-wide instructional aide (initially located at Skyline High School)
• Allie Lacy as a county-wide instructional aide (initially located at Stevenson Elementary School)
• Trevan Austin Pankey as a county-wide instructional aide (initially located at Woodville High School)
• Morgan Short as a county-wide instructional aide (initially located at Section High School)
• Jeremy Moore as a county-wide school bus driver (initially located at Bryant School)
• Ali Atchley as a Pre-k teacher at North Sand Mountain High School (pending certification)
• Amanda Talalaj as an elementary teacher at Bridgeport Middle School (pending Alabama certification)
• Carol Beth Reed as a part-time (not to exceed 50%) teacher at Rosalie School
• Tracy Grider as a part-time (not to exceed 50%) teacher at Stevenson Middle School (pending Alabama certification)
• Jana Wheeler as a part-time (not to exceed 50%) teacher at Bryant School
• Ashlynn Jones as an English Language Arts Fine Arts teacher at Kevin Dukes Career & Innovation Academy
Congratulations to all new employees, and best wishes for a successful year.
