Story by Donna Thornton donna@southrntorch.com

The DeKalb County Board of Education administered oaths of office to board members Carol Hiett and Monty Darwin and Superintendent Dr. Wayne Lyles – all having won re-election in the Republican primary.

Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter administered the oath for all three.

“Thank you for what you do for our county,” Ledbetter said, prior the oaths. “It doesn’t go unnoticed. What’s going on in this county, you should all feel proud of.”

Board member Carol Hiett’s husband and granddaughters joined her in taking the oath – even a granddaughter who is on a mission trip to Nicaragua, who participated live via iPad. 

Hiett thanked all those present. “It is an honor for us for me to be re-elected for my second term,” she said. She said in her first term, she was just finding her way. It proved successful, she said, and she was grateful to be re-elected.

Monty Darwin’s wife joined him as he took the oath, and his parents were present as well.

“I appreciate my board members and my superintendent,” Darwin said. “I believe we’re got a good group.”

Lyles was joined by his family and parents, too, as Ledbetter administered the oath.

“Let me say with Monty and with Wayne, how much I appreciate your leadership. There’s no question it shows every week in the DeKalb County Board of Education and what they’re doing. I have the chance to travel across the state,” Ledbetter said, “and you’d be so proud of what we do here if you could see some of the rest of the state.”

“It’s been an honor to serve as superintendent for almost the last three-and-a-half years,” Lyles said. “I’d like to thank my leadership team, my supervisors, my principals, my teachers, and the greatest students in the state of Alabama.” It has been an honor to serve, he said, and he looked forward to serving four more years.

“It truly means more to me this time that the voters of DeKalb County had the confidence in me to give me this opportunity for another four years. Thank you very much,” Lyles said.

Ledbetter presented Hiett, Darwin, and Lyles with a resolution from the Secretary of State’s office, recognizing her for her election and her achievements.