The Clarke County Board of Education approved a batch of personnel changes and got an update on preparations for the 2026-27 school year during its July 16 meeting in Grove Hill.
Board members reviewed plans for back-to-school events, went over preliminary results from statewide student testing and signed off on new hires, resignations, contract renewals and a staff transfer.
A teacher institute is set for Aug. 3 at 8:30 a.m. at Jackson High School. The next day, the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce and area businesses will host a back-to-school breakfast for Jackson teachers at 8:30 a.m., while Grove Hill Baptist Church will serve lunch to Grove Hill teachers at noon.
Superintendent Ashlie Flowers encouraged board members to take part in the back-to-school events and asked parents to keep an eye out for school registration dates, following both their child’s school Facebook page and the district’s new Facebook page for updates.
Flowers said summer maintenance work across the district remains on track to wrap up before or shortly after students return, and she thanked staff who spent the summer on professional development, campus projects and getting ready for the new year.
“I am excited about what is in store for our students this year,” Flowers said.
Flowers also told the board the district has received preliminary results from the 2025-26 Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program. Principals and district administrators are set to meet July 28 to go over the data and map out strategies for the coming year.
“We have seen some bright spots and have identified areas of improvement for next year,” she said.
Board members were also briefed on the Alabama Association of School Boards’ district meeting, scheduled for Sept. 14 in Saraland, and received the organization’s 2026-27 calendar of conferences and training sessions.
On the personnel side, the board approved catastrophic sick leave for maintenance bookkeeper Candy Fuller and a contract amendment for Assistant Superintendent Jackie Daffin.
New hires approved by the board include Cassie Aspinwall as pre-K lead teacher at Grove Hill Elementary School; Kayla Beard as a teacher at Jackson Intermediate School; Natasha Dunagan and Amanda Fore as special education aides at Grove Hill Elementary; Salone Green as a bus driver; and Latonia Jackson as a child nutrition assistant at Jackson Middle School.
Also approved were Caroline McKinley and Amanda Overstreet as teachers at Grove Hill Elementary; Jodie Powell as a science teacher at Jackson Middle School; Alicia Rocker as a physical education aide at Grove Hill Elementary; Tera Sims as the ISS facilitator at Jackson High School; Kim Stanley as a part-time academic interventionist at Clarke County High School; Craig White as transportation director and safety coordinator; and Latrina White as a math teacher at Clarke County High School.
The board accepted resignations from Transportation Director Richard Brown, Jackson Middle School child nutrition assistant Theresa James and Grove Hill Elementary special education aide Ariel Merida.
Members also renewed TEAMS contracts for Amanda James, William Powell, Taneisha Vaughn and Latrina White, and approved the transfer of Chamar Glen from physical education aide at Grove Hill Elementary to ISS facilitator at Clarke County High School.
In other business, the board approved payment of $1,617,086.98 in bills and accounts and $2,290,248.86 in payroll.