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Florala High School Head Baseball Coach Tyler Zessin was recognized for the Wildcats varsity baseball team reaching the semi-finals and finishing the season with a 25-3 record. He is pictured with board member Jimmy Rodgers. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Florala High School Head Track Coach Jordan Cantrell was recognized for his girls’ team earning a sixth-place finish in the state and his boys’ team finishing in third place. He is pictured with board member Jimmy Rodgers. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Florala senior Seth Cotton was recognized for a third-place finish in javelin. He is pictured with board member Jimmy Rodgers. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Florala senior Seth Cotton was recognized as the state champion in 110-meter hurdles and the state champion in 300-meter hurdles. He is pictured with board president Dr. James Barton. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Florala senior Seth Cotton was recognized as the state champion in 110-meter hurdles and the state champion in 300-meter hurdles. He is pictured with board president Dr. James Barton. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Florala senior Ronald Johnson was recognized as the state champion in high jump. He is pictured with board president Dr. James Barton. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Florala’s boys’ 4x800 relay team was recognized for a fourth-place finish at the state meet. Pictured with senior Christian Greasham is board president Dr. James Barton. Not pictured are Noah Anderson, Layton Stone, and Willie Sutton. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Pleasant Home senior Vance Kelley was recognized for a second-place finish in pole vault. He is pictured with board president Dr. James Barton. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Pleasant Home’s boys’ 4x100 relay team was recognized for a seventh-place finish at the state meet. Pictured are, from left, freshman Jacob Bryan, junior Jackson Hawkins, sophomore Alex Scott, board president Dr. James Barton, and sophomore Chris Scott. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Pleasant Home’s boys’ 4x400 relay team was recognized for a third-place finish at the state meet. Pictured are, from left, junior Jackson Hawkins, junior Nathan Hobbs, sophomore Alex Scott, board president Dr. James Barton, and sophomore Chris Scott. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Pleasant Home junior Presley Kelley was recognized as the state champion in girls’ pole vault. She is pictured with board president Dr. James Barton. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Pleasant Home’s boys’ 4x800 relay team was recognized as the state champions at the state meet. Pictured are, from left, Vance Kelley, John Isaac Hawkins, Nathan Hobbs, and Jackson Hawkins. They are pictured with board president Dr. James Barton. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Red Level School Head Softball Coach was recognized for the Lady Tigers varsity softball team making an appearance in the South Regional. He is pictured with board member Jimmy Rodgers. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Red Level senior Jackson Ingram was recognized for a sixth-place finish in 300-meter hurdles. He is pictured with board member Jimmy Rodgers. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Red Level senior Dominic Williams Jr. was recognized for a tenth-place finish in boys’ javelin. He is pictured with board member Jimmy Rodgers. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Red Level’s boys’ 4x400 relay team was recognized for a ninth-place finish at the state meet. Pictured are, from left, sophomore Ben Carroll, board member Jimmy Rodgers, and senior Jackson Ingram. Not pictured are Braydon Walker and Malique Copeland. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Red Level sophomore Miracle Wright was recognized as the state champion in 100-meter dash and the state champion in 200-meter dash. She is pictured with board member Jimmy Rodgers. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Straughn High School Head Softball Coach Candace Tucker was recognized for the Lady Tigers varsity softball team making an appearance in the South Regional. She is pictured with board member John “Sonny” Thomasson. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Straughn High School’s Carter Straughn was recognized for finishing in tenth place at the Class 3A boys’ javelin event at the AHSAA Track State Championship. He is pictured with board member John “Sonny” Thomasson. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Straughn High School’s girls’ 4x800 relay team was recognized for finishing in fifth place at the AHSAA Track State Championship. Pictured are, from left, Faithe Eib, Kaitlyn Bybee, Reagan Bartholomew, Breanna Yates, and school board member John “Sonny” Thomasson. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Straughn High School’s Avery Smith was recognized for being the state champion in Class 3A boys’ shot put event at the AHSAA Track State Championship. He is pictured with board member John “Sonny” Thomasson. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Straughn Middle School seventh grader Steven Kallas was recognized for being the 14th chair middle school white band on the trombone at this year’s All-State Honor Band competition. He is pictured with board member John “Sonny” Thomasson. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Straughn Middle School eighth grader Johnathan Baker was recognized for being the sixth chair middle school white band on the alto saxophone at this year’s All-State Honor Band competition. He is pictured with board member John “Sonny” Thomasson. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Straughn High School junior Christian Pate was recognized for being the first chair red band on the French horn at this year’s All-State Honor Band competition. Christian was first chair in the top high school honor band making him the best French horn player in Alabama for the 2023-2024 school year. He is pictured with board member John “Sonny” Thomasson. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

The Covington County Board of Education renewed the contract of Superintendent Shannon Driver and approved eight personnel matters during a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 21.

The board renewed a three-year contract for Driver as the system’s superintendent effective July 1.

“Mr. Driver, you do more work than I ever thought you did, and you do a pretty good job at it. I am proud to get you locked in as our county schools’ superintendent for three more years,” Board President Dr. James Barton said.

The board approved the following personnel matters:

Resignations

• Charlotte L. Petre as science teacher at Florala High School effective at the end of the 2023-2024 school year
• Jonathan Trey Lowery as social science teacher at Straughn High School effective at the end of the 2023-2024 school year
• Ashlynn Elmore as teacher at Straughn Elementary School effective at the end of the 2023-2024 school year
• Kyla Bridges as teacher at Red Level School effective at the end of the 2023-2024 school year
• Patrick Whitehurst as band director at Florala High School effective at the end of the 2023-2024 school year
• Betsy Reed as teacher at W.S. Harlan Elementary School effective at the end of the 2023-2024 school year

Employment

• Kevin Bond as social science teacher/head football coach at Pleasant Home School effective at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Joshua C. O’Neal as social science teacher/head basketball coach at Straughn High School effective at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews

The board also recognized the following for outstanding achievements:

• Florala High School varsity baseball: head coach Tyler Zessin – Class 1A Semi-Finals (Fourth Round) with a final record of 25-3
• Florala High School track and field: head coach Jordan Cantrell – girls’ team finished sixth in the state; boys’ team finished third in the state for the second year in a row
• Florala High School’s Seth Cotton: state champion in 110-meter hurdles and state champion in 300-meter hurdles, third place, javelin
• Florala High School’s Ronald Johnson: state champion in high jump
• Florala High School’s Dalton Devenney: seventh place, 3200-meter run and eighth place, 1600-meter run
• Florala High School’s Bradley Norman: second place, javelin and top 10, 100-meter hurdles
• Florala High School’s Emery Wood: second place, 800-meter run and third place, 1600-meter run
• Florala High School’s Rayshon Coleman: fourth place, triple jump
• Florala High School’s Kyndra Anthony: sixth place, 100-meter hurdles and fourth place, 300-meter hurdles
• Florala High School girls’ 4×400 relay (Kyndra Anthony, Alyssa Anderson, Marissa Jackson, Emery Wood): fourth place
• Florala High School girls’ 4×800 relay (Marissa Jackson, Alyssa Anderson, Lily Bookout, Emery Wood): second place
• Florala High School boys’ 4×100 relay (Ronald Johnson, Kaden Cantrell, Elijah McMeans, Rayshon Coleman): sixth place
• Florala High School boys’ 4×800 relay (Noah Anderson, Christian Greasham, Layton Stone, Willie Sutton): fourth place
• Florala High School’s Jada Chambers: selection to District 8 Honor Band
• Pleasant Home School track and field: head coach Tony Wilson
• Pleasant Home School’s Presley Kelley: state champion in girls’ pole vault
• Pleasant Home School’s John Isaac Hawkins, Vance Kelley, Nathan Hobbs, Jackson Hawkins: state champion in 4×800 relay
• Pleasant Home School boys’ 4×100 relay (Alex Scott, Chris Scott, Jacob Bryan, Jackson Hawkins): seventh place
• Pleasant Home School boys’ 4×400 relay (Alex Scott, Chris Scott, Nathan Hobbs, Jackson Hawkins): third place
• Red Level School varsity softball: head coach Dusty Lee and assistant coach Eric Schwartz for qualifying in the South Regional
• Red Level School track and field: head coach Steve Bailey
• Red Level School’s Miracle Wright: state champion in 100-meter dash and state champion in 200-meter dash
• Red Level School’s Jackson Ingram: sixth place, 300-meter hurdles
• Red Level School’s Dominic Williams Jr.: 10th place, boys’ javelin
• Red Level School’s 4×400 relay (Jackson Ingram, Ben Carroll, Braydon Walker, Malique Copeland): ninth place
• Straughn High School varsity softball: head coach Candace Tucker for qualifying in the South Regional
• Straughn High School track and field: head coach John Evers
• Straughn High School’s Avery Smith: state champion in boys’ shot put
• Straughn High School girls’ 4×800 relay (Kaitlyn Bybee, Faith Eib, Reagan Bartholomew, Breanna Yates): fifth place
• Straughn High School’s Christian Pate: selection to 11th Grade French Horn First Chair Red Band (Christian was the first chair in the top high school honor band making him the best French horn player in the state for the 2023-2024 school year.)
• Straughn Middle School’s Johnathan Baker: selection to 8th Grade Alto Saxophone Sixth Chair Middle School White Band
• Straughn Middle School’s Steven Kallas: selection to 7th Grade Trombone 14th Chair Middle School White Band
• Straughn High School JAG at the Alabama JAG 2024 National Conference: Hallie Goodman, Hayden Blair, Mallory Hall, Orrin Douglas, third place in the Business Plan category
• Straughn High School JAG Director Kaci Perry: NCA Service Project – Habitat for Humanity, Certificate of Humanity

“To the students who have competed in these competitions, it takes a lot of work and is not easy. It is dedication from coaches and leaders who helped these athletes achieve their accomplishments. We congratulate you and thank you for your hard work. Not only do you represent your schools well in your areas of accomplishment, but you also represent your schools well in your character. You set a good example and a great reputation for your school, and we appreciate that for it does not go unnoticed. You represent Covington County Schools well,” Driver said.

In other business:

• The board approved a recommendation from Nikki Guilford, the system’s textbook coordinator, to adopt studies weekly supplemental resource materials for K-6 science and social studies.
• The board heard a distribution of financial reports that have been reconciled to most current bank statements from Chief School Finance Officer Ressie Gray.

The board set the next meeting date for Tuesday, June 4, 5:30 p.m., at the central office. Board training will be held following the meeting.

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