As the school year begins, two new assistant principals have been named at Poplar Grove School and three new leaders will join the FSSD Central Office. At the beginning of June, Franklin Special School District Director of Schools Dr. David Snowden asked former Poplar Grove Middle Assistant Principal Tracie Clark to step into the role of principal after Anthony Johnson, Ed.D., resigned. As one of her first duties, Clark hired J.P. Orman of Murfreesboro City Schools to serve as assistant principal of the 5th through 8th grade school.
Orman comes to Poplar Grove Middle from Scales Elementary in Murfreesboro where he served as a teacher in both elementary and middle grades for the past eight years. He earned his B.S. degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2006 and received his M.Ed. in School Leadership from Lipscomb University this year.
Also at Poplar Grove, a new assistant principal has been hired in the elementary school to replace Darwin Mason, who resigned to take a school leadership position in Metro Nashville. Poplar Grove Elementary Principal Alisha Erickson has chosen Joel Hoag (pronounced Ho-ag) as the elementary assistant principal.
Hoag most recently served as an assistant principal for three years in Wilson County at Stoner Creek Elementary. Prior to that, he was a teacher for six years in Murfreesboro City Schools. He earned his B.S. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2005 and his M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision in 2007, both from Middle Tennessee State University. He is currently working on his doctorate at Lipscomb University in Learning Organizations and Strategic Change.
At the Central Office, two positions have been filled due to retirement and one new position was added at the end of the school year.
Lauren Fleming: Instructional Technology Specialist (K-4)
Fleming was hired at the end of the school year as an additional instructional technology specialist to work primarily in the elementary grades. Although she spent four years as an elementary teacher in Atlanta’s Fulton County Schools, her most recent work experience has been as the Director of Educational Training for Personal Computer Systems in Knoxville. In that role, she served as a technology consultant to school districts across the Southeast, directing training related to: Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT), interactive white boards, learner response systems, Microsoft Office products, mobile technology, video conferencing, common core standards, assessment, and instructional strategies for classroom technology use. Fleming received her B.S. in Early Childhood Education.
Mary Decker: Curriculum, Professional Learning and District Math Coach
Decker is moving to Franklin from Sacramento, California, and will join the district in mid-July. She will fill the role left by long-time FSSD teacher and administrator Sharon Cooksey, who retires at the end of June. Decker will leave her position as an elementary school principal in the San Juan Unified School District to serve in her new role in Franklin. She also has experience as a vice-principal and teacher. She received a B.A. in French from Ohio State University, CLAD Teaching Credentials from University of San Diego, and her M.A.E. in Educational Leadership and Administration from Chapman University in Roseville, CA.
Amanda Parks: Morning and Afternoon Care Supervisor
Parks comes to FSSD from neighboring Murfreesboro City Schools where she held a similar position as Operations Manager of the after-school program, including 12 school sites. She is replacing retiring MAC Supervisor Sandy Hime, who began the MAC program over 20 years ago after realizing a need for high quality child care after school when many children were going home to empty houses. Parks has worked in after-school childcare for 16 years in various roles, including as an enrichment teacher, assistant school site director, site director and finally district operations manager. She received her B.S. Degree in Elementary Education from Middle Tennessee State University in 2000.
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