A new school year often means new faces inside the classroom and in the principal’s office. This year is no exception in Covington County Schools.

The Covington County School Board made some 15 personnel changes Wednesday night – including hiring Joy Colvin as the principal at W.S. Harlan Elementary School and coaches at a variety of schools.

“As we approach the new school year, I know you’re all chomping at the bit,” said board president Jimmy Prestwood to the audience of principals and school personnel. “We have the greatest confidence in you. We know you can do great things for our system.”

Colvin has worked as a special education teacher and career tech coordinator at Florala High School.

Personnel changes included hiring:

• Christy Carter as accounts payable clerk at the central office, effective immediately;

• Whitney Wooten as a teacher at Fleeta Jr. High;

• William Troy Stewart as P-12 physical education teacher with coaching duties at Florala High School;

• Kenneth P. Bracewell as math teacher at Pleasant Home;

• Joy D. Clark as collaborative 7-12 teacher at PHS;

• Marci Farley as teacher at Straughn Elementary School;

• Shawna Hall as custodian at Straughn High School;

• Herbert Holloway as general social science teacher and junior high football coach with other coaching duties at Straughn Middle School;

• Joseph Carter as science teacher with possible coaching duties at SHS; and,

• Sally L. Gafford as special education teacher at WSH.

Transfers included:

• Victoria Adams as JAG teacher at Red Level High School to history teacher at PHS;

• Tony Ingram as physical education teacher at RLHS to JAG teacher and physical education teacher;

Resignations included:

• the retirement resignation of Rosemary L. Bryan, a 34-year employee, as bus driver at SHS; and,

• Marc Tracy as social science teacher and boys’ basketball coach at SHS. Tracy accepted a position in Fayette County to be closer to family.

In other business, the board:

• received an “unqualified” audit report for the last fiscal year by the state auditor’s office. The records revealed no findings, earning the system the highest mark given by the state for financials; and,

• awarded bids for milk, bread, ice cream products and petroleum.

Board members agreed to meet again at noon on July 25 to finalize the personnel for the upcoming school year, which begins on Aug. 19 for students.

–Stephanie Nelson