Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Jim Scales has named new principals/associate principals at 12 schools.

“These candidates rose to the top in terms of their experience and talents in leading our schools,” Dr. Scales said in a news release.

“I know they have the skill to take our schools to the next level and improve student achievement while working with their communities and parents,” he said.

The following placements will take effect July 1:

Hunter Middle School — Robert Alford (currently principal of Red Bank Middle School)

Mr. Alford succeeds Gary Kuehn at Hunter Middle School. Mr. Kuehn was previously selected to head up Hamilton County High School.

Mr. Alford began his career in education as a teacher in Ringgold, Ga., in 1983. He moved to Tyner Middle School in 1993 as an eighth grade teacher. He became the assistant principal at Tyner Middle Academy in 1999 and moved to Red Bank Middle School as principal in 2002.

Ooltewah Middle School — Margaret Abernathy (currently assistant principal at Dalewood Middle School)

Ms. Abernathy replaces Pam Dantzler at Ooltewah. Ms. Dantzler was previously named principal of the new East Hamilton County Middle/High School, which will open in 2009.

Ms. Abernathy began her career in education as a special education teacher at Ooltewah High School in 1987. She served as area evening school manager for Red Bank from August 2000 through 2003, while continuing to teach at Ooltewah High. Ms. Abernathy moved to Dalewood Middle School as assistant principal in 2006.

Harrison Elementary — Norma Faerber (currently assistant principal of K-5 at CSAS)

Ms. Faeber replaces Tom Arnold as principal of Harrison Elementary.

She began her career in special education in Missouri in 1971. She came to Hamilton County in 1990 as a resource teacher at Signal Mountain Middle School.

She left to teach in Walker County Schools in 1991 and returned to Hamilton County Schools as a teacher at Loftis Middle School. She became the curriculum facilitator at Brown Academy in 2002 and then assistant principal at East Side Elementary in 2005. She moved to Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences over the K-5 school in 2007.

Smith Elementary — Billie Jenno (currently principal at Snow Hill Elementary)

Ms. Jenno succeeds retiring Wallace A Smith principal Susan Kennedy.

She began her teaching career in 1975 in Catoosa County, Ga., coming to Hamilton County in 1982. She moved to Soddy Elementary in 1983 and was worked as assistant principal at Wallace A. Smith and Spring Creek Elementary. She moved to be the assistant principalship at Snow Hill Elementary in 1997 and then principal of Ooltewah Elementary in 2001 before becoming principal of Daisy Elementary in 2003. She took over as principal of Snow Hill Elementary in 2006.

Snow Hill Elementary — Shane Harwood (currently assistant principal at Snow Hill Elementary)

Mr. Harwood succeeds Ms. Jenno as principal at Snow Hill.

He began his career in education in 1998 at Hardy Elementary. He moved to North Hamilton County Elementary in 1999 and became assistant principal at Snow Hill Elementary in 2006.

Barger Academy — Greg Bagby (currently assistant principal at Barger Academy)

Mr. Bagby replaces Caitlin Sims as principal of Barger Academy, who is moving out of the state.

Mr. Bagby began his career in Hamilton County in 1993 as an itinerant band director at Dalewood and Orchard Knob middle schools. He also worked as an itinerant band director at Brainerd High School from 1994 to 1997. In 1998 he moved to 21st Century Academy as band director and a technology teacher.

He became assistant principal of Howard School of Academics and Technology in 2005 before joining the staff of Barger Academy as assistant principal in 2007.

Orchard Knob Middle School — Maryo Beck (currently assistant principal at Howard High School)

Mr. Beck began his career in education in 1999 as a math teacher at Orchard Knob Middle School. In 2005, he moved to Howard Middle School as an assistant principal.

21st Century Academy — Wendy Jung (currently associate principal at Howard High School).

Ms. Jung began her career in Hamilton County Schools in 1990. She worked at Rivermont Elementary, Big Ridge Elementary and Hixson Middle School before moving to Franklin Middle School as an assistant principal in 2001. She was placed at East Lake Academy as principal in 2002 and moved to Chattanooga Middle Museum Magnet for one year as principal before going to Howard School of Academics and Technology as associate principal in 2007.

CSAS (K-5) Associate principal — William Fain (currently assistant principal at McBrien Elementary)

Mr. Fain will join Steve Ball at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences as associate principal (K-5), replacing Ms. Faerber.

He began his career at Barger Academy in 1995, moving into the consulting teacher position at Barger Academy and East Brainerd Elementary in 2002. He moved to McBrien Elementary in 2005 as assistant principal and was acting principal at Woodmore Elementary from September to December 2007.

Apison Elementary — Ron Hughes (currently principal at Ooltewah Elementary)

Mr. Hughes replaces Deborah Scarbrough as Apison principal. Ms. Scarbrough is moving out of the state.

Mr. Hughes has been in education for 30 years, 24 of those with Hamilton County. He was a classroom teacher for 14 years before going into administration 16 years ago.

Ooltewah Elementary — Tom Arnold (currently interim principal at Harrison Elementary)

Mr. Arnold succeeds Mr. Hughes at Ooltewah Elementary as principal.

He came to Hamilton County Schools in 1999 as a physical education teacher at Nolan Elementary. He moved to Bess T. Shepherd Elementary in 2006 as assistant principal and took over Harrison Elementary in February as interim principal.

HSAT (9-12) associate principal — Faye Ison (currently principal at Chattanooga Middle Museum Magnet)

Ms. Ison joins Dr. Paul Smith at Howard School of Academics and Technology as associate principal, replacing Ms. Jung.

She joined Hamilton County Schools in 1972 as a special education teacher at Alton Park Junior High. She became a principal trainee in 1999 at Orchard Knob Elementary School, moving to Woodmore Elementary in 2001 as principal. She shared the principalship at 21st Century Academy beginning in 2005 before moving to Chattanooga Middle Museum Magnet School last year.

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