For the first time in 21 years, McCallie School will have a new middle school principal.
Scotty Jones of Atlanta has been selected to replace longtime Middle School Head Lynn Goss when he retires at the end of this school year.
"Scotty is an outstanding man, an extraordinary educator and a wonderful role model for boys," said McCallie's Headmaster Lee Burns in a written statement. "I'm certain he will excite and inspire the entire middle school community."
Jones currently works at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta, serving as dean of boys for sixth grade. He was selected for this position at McCallie from a national search yielding nearly 100 applicants, according to school officials.
Serving as Westminster's middle school tennis coach, Jones has been visiting McCallie's campus annually for a decade and said he has been continually impressed.
"What an honor it is to have been selected to join the McCallie community," Jones said in a written statement. "The decision to move to Chattanooga has been a thoughtful and prayerful one."
Jones and his wife, Laurie, have three children. Jones said his family was able to come visit Chattanooga last week over Thanksgiving break and are excited about the opportunity to move here.
"My entire family is very excited about this wonderful opportunity, and I look forward to working to fulfill the school's mission of preparing young men to make a positive difference in their world," Jones said in a statement.
Jones' resume is full of extensive experience teaching and leading in the middle school setting, along with service on a variety of committees. He has earned several distinguished awards, including Teacher of the Year in Illinois in 2004. He also leads the High School Odyssey Atlanta Program, which is an educational nonprofit organization partnering with the Atlanta Public Schools to serve poor students in the community.
Assistant Head Kenny Sholl said Jones earned top reviews from the faculty, boys and administrators when he met with them on campus.
"Scotty will be a great fit at McCallie, and his experiences and skills align with the criteria that the Middle School faculty articulated and developed before the search began," Sholl said in a written statement.
Goss served as head of the middle school for 21 years, guiding the school through many transitions including the move to McDonald Hall in 1999 and the addition of a sixth-grade class that same year. According to records from the 2014 fiscal year, Goss earned an annual salary of $142,076.
Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6592. Follow on twitter @kendi_and.