WCHS facing major staff changes

DOUBLE SPRINGS      -  Major personnel changes are taking place at Winston County High School ahead of the new school year starting for students on Aug. 7, when students will see a new teacher in the auto technology department as well as new faces in the positions of head football coach and band director.
Cordale Johnson was hired new teacher in the auto technology department at the Winston Career Academy, effective May 11 at the Winston County Board of Education’s regular meeting on Thursday, May 11.
Johnson will replace Bubba Lewis, who died after being struck by a vehicle earlier in the school year.

WCHS Principal Jeff Cole noted Bubba’s shoes would be hard to fill, but Johnson will fit the position, having been Lewis’s student.

explained.
“Cordale is a really good guy,” he added. “He will do well with this.
“Bubba’s shoes will be very hard to fill. There is not another Bubba,” Cole pointed out. “Cordale will make (the position) his, and he’ll do a very good job with that.”
Cole recalled Johnson as being a nice  young man, working hard and having a passion for automotives.
“It would be a very good fit,” Cole said.

WCHS band director retirement approved

The following retirements were approved: Spencer Johnson as band director at WCHS effective May 26, and Barbara Cagle, as lunchroom worker for WCHS and Double Springs Middle School, effective June 1.
Johnson had served previously as WCHS band director for eight years, then had resigned to take care of some family matters, school officials said.
Later, when the job opening for band director came open again, Johnson applied and got the position, which he has worked the past two years, school officials added.
“Spencer is just a phenomenal band director,” Cole stated. “He has been very successful here with our kids.”
At one time, during Johnson’s tenure, WCHS had students graduate and go on to marching bands at UNA in Florence, Mississippi State, University of Alabama and Auburn University, according to school officials.
“He has done a lot for our program over the years,” said Cole. “He’s made a mark on the hearts of some kids, and brought some music into their lives that will stay with them forever.”

WCHS head football coach resigns

Another major personnel change at WCHS was the resignations of head football coach and physical education teacher Mark Mitchell and his wife, high school English teacher, Heather Mitchell, each effective at the end of the school year.
Also, Heath Guin’s resignation was approved as LHS English teacher also effective at the conclusion of the school year.
The Mitchells will be leaving WCHS for teaching jobs in the Gulf Shores area, according to Cole.
“Coach Mitchell has been with us a few years now, and he has done a lot of great things with us,” Cole noted.

“Cordale is one of my kids,” Cole stated about him as a student. “He graduated Winston County High School, and went through Bubba’s program.”
Johnson will return to WCHS from an auto dealership where he has been employed, to take the auto tech teacher position, Cole