Numerous resignations at Winston County Schools

DOUBLE SPRINGS  -  Several personnel resignations, including staff members either being transferred to other positions or those leaving for positions in other school systems, were approved by the Winston County Board of Education during an early morning session Thursday, Sept. 2.
Jake Hebree, assistant principal at Double Springs Middle School,  has left to take an assistant principal’s job at Hartselle.
Hired to replace Hebree as DSMS assistant principal was John Baker, effective Sept. 2.
Cassie Jordan, secretary at DSMS, resigned from that position and was hired as bookeeper at the elementary school, effective Sept. 2.
Jennifer Woodard’s resignation from DSES was also approved.  Woodard, who went to work at another school system, worked at Addison Elementary last year, school officials said.
She was going to be a teacher at DSES,  but resigned during the summer, so she never actually worked in the at the school, Double Springs Elementary Principal Heather Tucker explained.
The resignation of Lynn Elementary paraprofessional  Holly Aderholt was approved. Aderholt took a teaching job at Brilliant.
Faye Cockrell, paraprofessional at Addison Elementary, was moved to the position of LPN at Winston County High School and Double Springs Middle School, officials said.
Megan Fincher and Terri Sudberry were hired  as teachers at Meek Elementary. Fincher will teach fifth grade, with Sudberry teaching third grade, noted MES Principal Wes Harden.
The resignation of Amber Phillips was approved as custodian at  Meek High School, board members also approved.
Phillips has been moved to the position of systemwide job coach, MHS Principal Allan Henderson said.
The retirement of Haleyville bus driver Bill Tittle was also approved.
“We appreciate all of them, and obviously  appreciate some of them because they have resigned their current position, but in essence have gained promotion,” noted Winston County Schools Superintendent Greg Pendley.
Concerning Baker stepping in to replace Hebree as DSMS principal, Pendley responded, “He’s been with us for quite some time.”
Baker has been a coach, as well as a history teacher.
“I’m excited for him and for us,” Pendley said.  “He is going to do a fantastic job for us.”
Baker will be working alongside Brian Wakefield, who was hired as DSMS principal back in the summer.
Among other business at the board’s Sept. 2 meeting, the board approved the 2021-2022 systemwide budget.
The board had conducted their   first budget hearing on Wednesday afternoon, Sept 1, with the second hearing conducted the following morning  just before regular business of that meeting.
Chief School Financial Officer Morgan Smothers made the presentation, which will be featured more in-depth in a future edition of the Alabamian.
Bids were accepted on a Ford Taurus and a Mazda pickup at $550 each.