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The Covington County Board of Education approved 38 personnel matters including naming of the next Straughn Elementary School principal during a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 6.

Daniel Rodgers, who has served as the assistant principal at both Straughn Elementary School and Straughn Middle School, will become the new principal at SES. He will replace Bettye Anne Older, who is retiring after 22 years with SES on June 30. Rodgers will begin his tenure as principal on July 1.

The board approved the following personnel matters:

Retirements

• Susan Blackstock as elementary teacher at Fleeta Junior High School effective May 23
• Rhonda Leigh Mosley as teacher at Straughn Middle School effective May 23
• Madonna S. Bradley as custodian at W.S. Harlan Elementary School effective at the end of the 2024-2025 contract

Resignations

• Malissa S. Hester as occupational therapist for Covington County Schools retroactive to April 8
• Lindley Anderson as mental health service coordinator for Covington County Schools effective at the end of the 2024-2025 contract
• Taylor Gentz as intervention teacher at Florala High School effective May 23
• Abby Philpott Worley as elementary teacher at Straughn Elementary School effective May 23
• Theresa Perrin Wade as special education teacher at Straughn Elementary School effective May 23

Employment

• Abigail Grantham as K-6 elementary teacher at Fleeta Junior High School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• John P. Spann as secondary teacher at Straughn High School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Clint Humphrey as social science teacher at Straughn High School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Peyton Whigham as English teacher at Straughn High School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Taylor Barbaree as bus driver at Straughn High School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Nathaniel Tucker Reynolds as social science teacher at Straughn Middle School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Chicora Jeanette Bush as science teacher at Straughn Middle School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Nancy L. Johnston as K-6 collaborative teacher at W.S. Harlan Elementary School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Nealand Eugene Stone as elementary teacher at W.S. Harlan Elementary School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Jamie Lynn Jackson as media specialist at Florala High School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Michalyn Hope Hunt as counselor at Florala High School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Lynn Green as secretary at Florala High School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Lori Godwin as science teacher at Florala High School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Anne Catherine Greathouse as elementary teacher at Pleasant Home School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Madison Preston as elementary teacher at Pleasant Home School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews
• Brittany Kervin as LPN at Red Level School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, pending verification of new or existing background reviews

Transfers

• Tracie Hollinghead from bus driver at Straughn High School to bus driver at Fleeta Junior High School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year
• Curtis Brandon Davis from K-6 special education teacher at Fleeta Junior High School to math coach at Fleeta Junior High School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year
• Kriston Godwin Bush from intervention teacher at Pleasant Home School to math coach at Pleasant Home School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year
• Joyce K. Mitchell from elementary teacher at Straughn Elementary School to math coach at Straughn Elementary School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year
• Sarah Grantham Sasser from elementary teacher at Pleasant Home School to elementary teacher at Straughn Elementary School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year
• Charlotte June Dauphin from custodian at Straughn Elementary School to custodian at Straughn Middle School with effective date to be determined
• Deidra Tucker Burleson from English teacher at Straughn High School to English teacher at Straughn Middle School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year
• Amanda Marie Wise from paraprofessional at Straughn Elementary School to paraprofessional at Straughn High School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year
• Julie Amanda Moody Dillard from special education teacher at W.S. Harlan Elementary School to math coach at W.S. Harlan Elementary School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year
• Christy McCall as lunchroom worker at Fleeta Junior High School to custodian at W.S. Harlan Elementary School with effective date to be determined
• Ashley Lee from teacher at Red Level School to math coach at Red Level School effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year

The board also recognized the following for outstanding achievements:

• Red Level School: Brock Skipper – Class 1A Region 2 Bryant Jordan Achievement Award winner
• Straughn Middle School: Steven Kallas – Alabama All State Middle School Band participant
• Straughn High School: Christian Pate – Alabama All State Red Band participant

In other business:

• The board approved permission to bid for a walk in freezer for Covington County Schools.
• The board approved permission for any school in the system to hold summer school.
• The board approved continuing participation in the State Food Purchasing Program.
• The board approved permission for the superintendent to approve and submit to the Alabama State Department of Education all required LEA plans to include transportation, professional development, technology, special education, at-risk, career/technical education, and federal programs but not to exclude all other plans to meet the requirements to promote improved educational opportunities and provide better schools.
• The board approved the superintendent to apply for any federal or state funds or grants, to make amendments, and enter into contracts as needed for the 2025-2026 school year.
• The board approved any board member to any school sponsored or school-related workshops during the 2025-2026 school year.
• The board heard a distribution of financial reports that have been reconciled to most current bank statements. Chief School Finance Officer Ressie Gray.
• The board announced additional student recognitions would be conducted at future meetings.
• The board recognized the four county high school’s valedictorians and salutatorians during a banquet held on Monday, May 5, at the central office.

The board set the next meeting date for Tuesday, May 20, noon, at the central office.