Story By Donna Thornton
The DeKalb County Board of Education approved bids to buy some buses at its most recent meeting.
The board will purchase 10 72-passenger diesel buses from Southland International at a cost of $148,320, and one 54-passenger diesel bus designed for special needs students, at a cost of $154,913.
The board also recognized Valley Head High School’s Jr. Chef winners. The team of students – Braylie Callahan, Bailey Trammell, Lanie Britton, Isabella Bottonlee, and Raegan Key – competed with multiple schools and won to go to state competition, where they finished second.
Teacher/Coach April Shrader said the students went with a meatless Monday dish – Jackfruit black bean nachos. “We tested it with kids and they all were like ‘what do you mean it’s meatless?’ The jackfruit took on the flavor of pulled pork,” she said.
Resignations
Emily Cook - English Language Arts Teacher - Collinsville High School – May 23
Kaylee Wilks - Elementary Teacher - Collinsville High School – May 23
Allie Jett - Itinerant Speech Language Pathologist Assistant - District – May 29
Catherine Hardagree - Itinerant Speech Language Pathologist - District – June 2
Julie West - Instructional Coach - District – July 1
Transfers
Holly Currie Murdock from P.E. Teacher at Sylvania High School to Assistant
Principal at Sylvania High School (2025-095) – effective July 1
Melissa Lozano from CNP Worker at Collinsville High School to Assistant CNP Manager at Collinsville High School (2025-040) - effective July 1
Bridget Thrash from Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional at Fyffe Special Services Center to Itinerant Special Education (Pre-K) Paraprofessional at Geraldine High School (2025-112) -effective Aug. 1
Brittany Martin from Elementary Teacher at Fyffe High School to Itinerant ARI Local Reading Specialist at Fyffe High School (2025-119) -effective Aug. 1
Taylor Littles from Elementary Teacher at Henagar Jr. High School to Elementary Teacher at Sylvania High School (2025-079) -effective Aug. 1
Carrie Cox from Elementary Teacher at Geraldine High School to K-5 Building-based Math Coach (10-months) at Crossville Elementary School (2025-096) – effective July 1
Brooke Cowart from Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional at Crossville Elementary School to Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional at Geraldine High School (2025-112) – effective Aug. 1
Caroline Brannon from Secondary Science Teacher at Sylvania High School to English Language Arts Teacher at Collinsville High School (2025-129) – effective Aug. 1
Eddie Adkins from Elementary Teacher at Plainview High School to Assistant Principal at Plainview High School (2025-123) – effective July 1
Placements (All placements are made pending a background review meeting suitability criteria and negative, pre-employment drug screen and appropriate certification.)
Certified
Tonya Blackwell - Mathematics Teacher - Valley Head High School (2025-076) – effective Aug. 1
Kathy Brown - Assistant Principal - Geraldine High School (2025-111) – effective July 1
Shannon Allen - Secondary English Language Arts Teacher - Crossville High School (2025-069) – effective Aug. 1
Terri Killian - Itinerant Special Education Teacher - Plainview High School (2025-110) – effective Aug. 1
Guadalupe Robles - Elementary Teacher - Collinsville High School (2025-130) – effective Aug. 1
Blaine Smith - Physical Education Teacher - Collinsville High School (2025-052) – effective Aug. 1
Isabella Corbin - Elementary Teacher - Sylvania High School (2025-079) – effective Aug. 1
Matthew Brewster - Mathematics / Computer Science Teacher - Sylvania High School (2025-126) – effective Aug. 1
Madison Haygood - Elementary Teacher - Crossville Elementary School (2025-116) – effective Aug. 1
Blakely Hannah - Elementary Teacher - Crossville Elementary School (2025-116) – effective Aug. 1
Stacey Yates - Elementary Teacher - Crossville Elementary School (2025-116) – effective Aug. 1
Ashton Traffanstedt - ARI Local Reading Specialist - Crossville Elementary School (2025-118) – effective Aug. 1
Matthew Todd Smart - Secondary Career Prep Teacher - Crossville High School
2025-125) – effective Aug. 1
Crystal Moore - Elementary Teacher - Valley Head High School (2025-075) – effective Aug. 1O. Anabelle Taylor Subias - Science Teacher - Valley Head High School (2025-077)– effective Aug. 1
Support
Josh Strange - Custodian (12-month) - Crossville Elementary School (2025-117) – effective Aug. 1
Brittany Hunter - School Nurse - Valley Head High School (2025-073) – effective Aug. 1
Max Bruce - Bus Driver - Crossville Middle/High School (2025-056) – effective Aug. 1
David Coggans - Bus Driver - Fyffe High School (2025-120) – effective Aug. 1
Dortha Higgins - Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional - Collinsville High School (2025-099) – effective Aug. 1
TEAMS Contracts (Must meet all state requirements in order for the contract to be completed.)
Advanced Contracts
Meredith Townson - Mathematics - Ider High School – July 1, 2025-June 30, 2028
Megan Gilbert - Science - Ider High School - July 1, 2025-June 30, 2028
Daniel Sigler - Computer Science - Crossville Middle School - July 1, 2025-June 30, 2028
Patricia Martin - Science - Sylvania High School - July 1, 2025-June 30, 2030
JerryLee Prestwood - Science - Sylvania High School July 1, 2025-June 30, 2028
Preliminary Contracts
Tonya Blackwell - Mathematics - Valley Head High School - July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026
In other action the board:
Approved the June 5, 2025 Contracts Report
Granted Superintendent Wayne Lyles permission to place personnel pending board approval.
Approved a bid to work on Crossville Elementary School floors for $18,497.31.
Approved Salary Schedule Updates
Approved giving Valley Head High School FCCLA $2,000 toward expenses of going to National Convention.
The next board meeting will be at 8 a.m. June 26.
To view the board meeting go to the Southern Torch Facebook page.
