Harden new MES principal; Henderson moves to Meek High

ARLEY   -  Wesley Harden, a Meek High School graduate, has returned home as Meek Elementary principal, replacing Allan Henderson, who has been transferred as high school principal in a series of personnel relocations across the Winston County school district.
These major personnel changes were approved by the Winston Winston County Board of Education at their Tuesday, June 29 meeting held at the board office in Double Springs.
Henderson will step into the position long  held by Marla Murrah, who has been moved to the central office as a district administrator.
During the early 2000s, Harden played on both the offensive and defensive line for the Meek High School Tigers and also was on the  basketball and track teams.
After graduating from Meek in 2004, Harden worked in several school systems in different areas before being called back home.
Lamar Frith, a member of the Winston County Board of Education, was Harden’s head football coach.
“I loved him as a coach, and he has continued to be a part of my life,” Harden said. “When he figured out the job would be open, he called me and asked if I was interested.
“To be honest, at first I wasn’t uninterested, but I loved the job I had,” Harden continued.
Harden explained he was interested in coming back to the school that meant so much to him growing up.
After discussing the new opportunity with his family, Harden accepted the position.
The job at MES will mark Harden’s first role  as a principal, after serving as an assistant principal in other schools.
“I am very excited about this opportunity,” he said. “This is home, and I want Meek Elementary School to be the best elementary school  in the State of Alabama. Wherever I’m at, (I want it to be) the  absolute best it can possibly be.”
After graduating from MHS in 2003, Harden went to Bevill State Community College on a cheerleading scholarship.
After two years, Harden transferred to the University of North Alabama, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, graduating in the spring of 2007 and later earning his master’s degree from Jacksonville State in 2013.
More recently, Harden received his education specialist degree in 2019 from Auburn University in Montgomery.
From 2007-2009, Harden was head football coach and head basketball coach at Fairview Middle School in Cullman County.
In 2010, he was at Buckhorn Middle School in Huntsville, where he was assistant football coach. He taught history at both middle schools, he explained.
From 2011-2013, Harden was at Susan Moore High School in Blount County, where he taught middle school history and was the assistant football coach,  head boy’s basketball coach and varsity track coach.
From 2014-2018, Harden was at Fairview High School, serving as varsity assistant football coach, head strength and conditioning coach for the school and high school history teacher.
Since 2018, Harden  has been at Good Hope Primary School and Good Hope Elementary School, working between both campuses as assistant principal, he said.
Concerning working alongside Henderson, Harden described him as a “fantastic man with a great character.
“I think he and I can work together to make Meek a great school,” Harden pointed out.
Henderson, who is originally from Dora, has been in the Meek school system the past four years.
Concerning moving to MHS principal, Henderson noted, “I have some big shoes to fill.  (Murrah) has been there a long time and has done a great job.
“It’s going to be a little bit  different,” said Henderson. “It’s going to be a lot of change, I guess, for people, getting used to a different leader after someone being there (a long time).”
Having worked with Murrah when he was  the high school’s assistant principal, Henderson will be familiar with the high school setting at Meek, he said.
“She taught me a lot of things while I was there. That will be very helpful going back,” he said.
“It’s something that has always been in my mind. I have been really blessed,” added Henderson.
A 1995 graduate of Dora High School, Henderson went to Bevill State, completing his B.S. degree in collaborative special education and Master’s in  educational leadership at the University of West Alabama.
Henderson worked 10 years at Walker County as head boy’s basketball coach at Curry from 2003-2010, followed by a year at Corner High School as an assistant coach.  Four years later, Henderson was in Jasper City Schools as a special education teacher and assistant coach.
After returning to Curry to take over the basketball program, he stayed until a special education job, basketball coach and half-day administrator position came open at Meek in 2017.
At the time, Henderson worked with MHS Principal Marla Murrah. When Heather Tucker left MES and took the job as principal at Double Springs Elementary School, Henderson took that job.