The Pike County Board of Education filled 11 of its 17 vacant teaching positions at Monday’s meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Bazzell said the district was ahead of the game and in a better staffing position than previous years.
“We’re in pretty good shape,” Bazzell said after the meeting. “There are six remaining teaching positions to fill and one support staff member.”
New hires included teachers, coaches and counselors.
“And hopefully we’ll finish all of our remaining hiring at the July meeting,” said Bazzell.
All of the new hires are new to the system. Bazzell said he only had one transfer.
Goshen Elementary will welcome preschool teacher Julie Sanders and preschool teaching assistant Twana Holland.
Emily Kessler was hired as the school’s new fourth-grade teacher.
Gina Maxwell will start as Troy-Pike Center for Technology’s new career coach this year.
Two new math teachers, Anthony May and David Fleming, will join Pike County High School’s staff. The school will also have a new softball coach, Winter Simms.
“We’re very excited,” said Principal Willie Wright.
“She’s coming off winning a state championship at Edgewood and was ‘Coach of the Year’ at Prattville.”
Other hires include a virtual high school teacher and a second-grade teacher.
“They look like good folks and I look forward to the opportunity of getting them geared up in the summer,” Bazzell said.
In other news, the board renewed its membership to AASB and AASB’s legal assistance fund; approved a PCHS football team trip to football camp; approved a GHS football team trip to football camp; and approved a GHS varsity cheerleading trip to an Auburn cheer camp.