Wood chooses assistant principals

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.)

New Warren County Middle School principal Betty Wood, center, will be receiving help this school year from her new assistant principals Kristie Rogers, left, and Jimmy Walker. (Will Stewart photo)

Upon taking the helm at Warren County Middle School last month, principal Betty Wood knew it was important to find assistant principals who, in her words, are “quality people and advocates for children.”

She believes she’s found two such people in veteran educators Jimmy Walker and Kristie Rogers.

“They’re who I call my ‘Sultans of Swat’ because they both have coaching backgrounds,” she said. “But more than that they’re quality people who are kid friendly and who will always do what’s best for the child. That’s what I was looking for and these two fit the bill.”

Walker began his education and coaching career 16 years ago at the now defunct junior high. He now comes to the middle school from Warren County High School, where he taught physical science and biology and served as an assistant coach and, until last year, head coach of the Pioneer baseball team.

Among Walker’s responsibilities will be overseeing the middle school’s athletic program and the discipline of many of the school’s seventh and eighth graders.

Rogers, a former physical education teacher, also began her career at the junior high, moving to the middle school when it opened in 1994. After five years there she was asked by former West Elementary School principal Troy Jones to fill a physical education vacancy there, where she remained until recently accepting the assistant principal job at the middle school.

The responsibilities of Rogers will include the school’s textbook selection as well as overseeing the school’s existing Prime Time character education program.

In addition to its administration, the middle school will see many new faces among its teaching staff.

Wood said she has recently filled seven positions, mostly in the school’s language arts department, made vacant by transfers and retirements.

“We’ve got some really good people here at Warren County Middle School this year,” she said. “Most of our new people are new teachers right out of college. They’ll be bringing with them fervor and passion. It’s always good to get new blood.”

The middle school will also be getting a new school counselor. Nancy Hale, who previously held that post at Centertown Elementary School, will replace long time counselor Vivian Dodson who retired in May.