City school board announces new EES principal hire

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2031
Melanie Harris is welcomed as the new East Elementary School principal at the Friday, May 26 Cullman City School Board meeting. (Tiffany McKoy)

CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City School Board, at a special called meeting on Friday, May 26, announced it hired Melanie Harris as the new principal of East Elementary School. Harris replaces longtime, beloved principal David Wiggins, who retired at the end of this school year.

“I look forward to bringing my passion for teaching and learning along with my love and appreciation for teachers and students to the school,” Harris said. “It is my heartfelt belief and passion that when dedicated educators, supportive families and a passionate community come together, extraordinary things happen.”

The board also approved the following items (as written from agenda):

  • Contract with the following employees for the Summer Feeding Program
    • Misty Lang and Sabrina Yarbrough
    • Substitutes: Delores Clark and Tina Holmes
  • Contract with Abigail Bennett to provide Special Education Services from June 1, 2023 – July 31, 2023
  • Contract with Lois Bice to provided extended day services from June 1, 2023 – July 31, 2023
  • Contract with Kenneth Gleaton to provide Summer School Instructional services at Cullman High School from June 5, 2023 – July 20, 2023
  • Contract with Michael Kilpatrick to provide Grass Cutting/Landscape services at Cullman City School from August 1, 2023 – July 31, 2024
  • Contract with Kevin Wilson to provide Truancy Officer services at Cullman City Schools from August 1, 2023 – May 26, 2024
  • Contract with Mary “Cindy” Stidham to provide Custodial services at Cullman City Schools from July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
  • Contract with Sharon Wilson to provide clerical services as needed from July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
  • Contract with Roman Shields to provide Maintenance Helper services at Cullman City Schools from June 1, 2023 – July 31, 2023
  • Contract with Brooke Desnoes to provide Dance Team Coaching Responsibilities for Cullman City Schools from June 1, 2023-August 31, 2024
  • Contract with Kristen Gragg to provide Summer Work services at Cullman Middle School from May 30, 2023 – July 31, 2023
  • Contract with Kalysha Whittle to provide nursing services for Cullman City Schools from June 28, 2023 – July 31, 2023

Personnel report:

  • Principal
    • Melanie Harris – Principal at East Elementary School, effective July 1, 2023
    • Supplemental Summer Contract as Probationary Principal at East Elementary School from May 27, 2023 – June 30, 2023
  • Retirements
    • Oscar Glasscock – Physical Education Teacher/Head Football Coach at Cullman High School, effective June 1, 2023
    • Michael Wilhite – Career Tech Education Teacher at Cullman High School, effective July 1, 2023
    • Brent Patterson – Driver’s Education Teacher at Cullman High School, effective July 1, 2023
  • Resignations
    • Amber Hembree – School Counselor at East Elementary School, effective July 1, 2023
    • Mitchell Maddox – Part-time Special Education Instructional Assistant at Cullman Middle School, effective May 19, 2023
    • Jana Thrasher – General Education Teacher at Cullman City Primary School, effective May 26, 2023
    • Rylee Baker – Special Education Instructional Assistant at Cullman Middle School, effective May 23, 2023
    • Molly Gambrill – English Teacher at Cullman High School, effective May 27, 2023
    • Caitlin Bowling – Family and Consumer Science Career Tech Teacher at Cullman High School, effective May 27, 2023
    • Meagan Cagle – Mathematics Teacher at Cullman High School, effective June 1, 2023
    • Jamie Burgess – Computer Teacher at Cullman Middle School, effective May 26,2023
    • Dori Long – Special Education Teacher at Cullman City Primary School, effective May 26, 2023
    • Maddie Quick – Child Nutrition Program Worker at East Elementary School, effective May 25, 2023
    • Ivy Loosier – Extended Day Instructional Assistant at Cullman City Primary School, May 24, 2023
    • Kaidence Murphree – Extended Day Instructional Assistant at Cullman City
    • Primary School, May 24, 2023
    • Jorie Johnson – Extended Day Instructional Assistant at Cullman City Primary School, May 24, 2023
  • Contract terminations
    • Nick Gentry – Community Football Coach (Contract), effective May 13, 2023
  • Contract extensions
    • Tera Thomas – Reading Intervention Teacher at Cullman City Primary School, extension through May 24, 2024
    • Kylie Bates – AMSTI Math Coach at Cullman Middle School and Cullman High School, extension through May 24, 2024
    • Sashari Caretti – AMSTI Math Coach at West Elementary School, extension through May 24, 2024
    • Courtney Speciale – AMSTI Math Coach at East Elementary School, extension through May 24, 2024
    • Krista Johnson -AMSTI Math Coach at Cullman City Primary School, extension through May 24, 2024
    • Tara Richard – Part-time Adjunct Health Science Teacher at Cullman City Schools, extension through May 24, 2024
    • Katelyn Bowling – Mental Health Specialist at Cullman City Schools, extension through May 24, 2024
    • Rachel Fondren – Mental Health Specialist at Cullman City Schools, extension through May 24, 2024
  • Conditional employment- Under the terms of the Child Protection Act of 1999, Act No. 2022-457, pending certification and paraprofessional requirements as applicable:
  • William Stidham – Summer worker at Cullman City Primary School from June 1, 2023 – July 31, 2023 (NTE 12 hours per week) (JV23-042)
  • April Borden – Special Education Teacher at Cullman High School, effective August 2, 2023 (JV23-026)
  • John Bullen – School-based In School Suspension Teacher at Cullman City Schools (Itinerant), effective August 2, 2023 (JV23-040)
  • Dianne Phillips – Special Education Teacher at Cullman City Primary School (at East Elementary School until 2nd Grade moves to Cullman City Primary School), effective August 2, 2023
  • Kellan McCoy – General Education Teacher at Cullman City Primary School, effective August 2, 2023
  • Cassidy Elliff – English Language Arts Teacher at Cullman High School, effective August 2, 2023
  • Bradley Pounds – Teacher at Cullman High School, effective August 2, 2023
  • Community Coach – (Under the terms of the Child Protection Act of 1999, Act No. 2022-457):
    • Justin Esmann – Football community coach
    • Justin Little – Football community coach
    • Morgan Smith – Girls’ basketball community coach
  • Miscellaneous
    • Mandy Anderson – unpaid leave from May 26, 2023 – June 9, 2023
  • Informational
    • Heather Brooks – FMLA from September 11, 2023 – December 11, 2023. Subject to change per physician’s certification.
    • Kristen Lang – FMLA from October 20, 2023 – February 1, 2024. Subject to change per physician’s certification.
    • Nicole Robinson – FMLA from May 22, 2023 – July 3, 2023. Subject to change per physician’s certification.

The next regular board meeting will be Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in the central office board room.

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