[06/17/03] New principals will greet students at three public elementary school buildings here when classes resume Aug. 11.

Judy Monroe, who has served as assistant principal at Dana Road Elementary School, will take the head position at that school.

Mary Hodges, a principal at a public school in Memphis, was hired to become principal at Warrenton Elementary School.

A yet-to-be-chosen person will lead Redwood Elementary because Butch Newman, principal there, will move to central administration.

And school officials are searching for a new principal at Vicksburg Intermediate as Norman Powell leaves his post as principal at the school to become fixed asset and attendance compliance administrator for the school district. Vicksburg Intermediate is part of the Dana Road complex.

“I’m excited about having this caliber of professionalism to join in the administrative staff,” said James Price, designated to become superintendent of the Vicksburg Warren School District when Donald Oakes retires June 30.

Newman has been named as an administrative assistant to the superintendent. That’s the title Price has held.

Officials said they will hire replacements for Newman and Powell, but have not begun interviews.

Hodges is a principal at LaRose Elementary School in Memphis, but said most of her experience as an educator is in Mississippi.

“My heart is here in Mississippi, my family is here in Mississippi and all my years of experience are in Mississippi,” the Corinth native said in a telephone interview. Trustees voted to make the offers at a special meeting Monday.

In the Jackson Public School District, Hodges was a teacher and served as director of research for the Office of Planning and Evaluation.

She was an adjunct professor for the department of curriculum and instruction and the department of special education at Jackson State University.

Two Warrenton teachers expressed excitement about their new boss.

“We’re thankful that she’s getting to come to our little school,” said kindergarten teacher Debbie Tate. “She’s what we’ve been looking for.”

Tate and assistant teacher Judy Wooley said they were hoping the school district would hire someone who would allow them to teach and “do what we know how to do.”

And when questioned about the teachers’ goals, the 51-year-old Hodges said she wholeheartedly agreed.

“If that’s what they’re looking for, then they are who I’m looking for,” she said. “I believe in empowering teachers to be active in the learning process.”

Hodges said she will visit the school for the first time tomorrow. She will succeed retiring principal Medric Faulkner, who has served 25 years.

Monroe, also 51 and a native of Knoxville, Tenn., has been the assistant principal at Dana Road for four years. She will replace Donnell Ellis, who is retiring after 27 years.

She and her husband moved to Vicksburg in 1973 and, before becoming an assistant principal at Grove Street Elementary, Monroe was a teacher at Bovina Elementary for 14 years.

“In my eyes there’s nothing greater than watching someone learn something new and become successful at it,” Monroe said.

She has two children who graduated from Warren Central High School. One is now a teacher at Beechwood Elementary.

Monroe said she hopes to continue programs at the school, wants the community to become more involved in the school and wants to continue improving in academic areas.

Applicants were interviewed and evaluated by a committee of two teachers, an assistant teacher, an administrator and two parents as prescribed in the district’s strategic plan, which is seeing renewed use.

The plan, developed by teachers, parents and administrators, was adopted by the board in June 1999. “It’s encouraging to know, after all the hours spent on it, it’s going to be used,” said Jan Daigre, elected District 4 trustee last fall.

Other personnel matters were approved by board members, and the next scheduled board meeting is June 26 in the board room at the central office.