Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
As Elmore County continues to grow, so do the schools that serve its communities, prompting district leaders to add new administrators and leadership roles to support students, teachers and families.
During the Tuesday meeting of the Elmore County Board of Education, Superintendent Richard Dennis announced several personnel changes, including a new administrative assistant at Holtville Elementary School, a leadership move at Redland Elementary School and new principals for Coosada Elementary School and Redland Middle School.
At Redland Elementary, physical education teacher Haley Fincher was named the school’s new administrative assistant.
“She is currently the PE coach at Redland Elementary School, but we are super excited to have her move into the administrative assistant position,” Assistant Principal Spencer Wade said. “Congratulations, Haley Fincher.”
Dennis said the additional administrative positions are a response to rapid enrollment growth across the county.
Schools that were once considered small now serve significantly larger student populations, he said.
“Holtville Elementary was a little school,” Dennis said. “Now, as you have larger schools in various areas of the county, you are running over 700 students. Holtville Elementary has around 760 students, so this is the unit they are receiving to provide that additional support.”
That added support comes in the form of Lakyn Northcutt, who was introduced as the new administrative assistant at Holtville Elementary.
“I would like to welcome Miss Lakyn Northcutt to the Bulldog family,” Principal Tonya Boone said. “I am very thankful to have an administrative assistant, and it was very much needed.”
Dennis said he is encouraged by the district’s emerging generation of school leaders.
“Congratulations,” Dennis said. “I’m looking forward to some of our new young and up-and-coming administrators coming in. I know they will do a great job.”
Dennis also announced that Janice McKenzie will lead Elmore County’s International Baccalaureate program.
“Janice McKenzie is taking and leading us with our IB program,” Dennis said. “That will be a continuation in years to come.”
Dennis said two middle schools and three elementary schools were recently approved as candidates for the International Baccalaureate program, expanding on the opportunities already offered at the high school level.
“We are now a candidacy school system for the International Baccalaureate program, like we have at the high school level,” Dennis said.
Spencer Wade was introduced as the new principal of Coosada Elementary School.
“I’m grateful to the Board of Education, Mr. Dennis and the leaders who helped me get to this point,” Wade said. “The Redland community really took me in, and I am who I am because of Redland. I am also thankful for the Millbrook community, where I started at Millbrook Middle School. I am excited to get started.”
“Mr. Wade has been paramount to any success we have had at Redland Elementary, and I know he is going to be a wonderful addition to Coosada,” said Redland Elementary School Principal Cory Eckstein.
At Redland Middle School, Jacob King was named principal.
King said he is honored to lead a school with a strong foundation.
“I just want to say thank you to the board and Mr. Dennis for the opportunity,” King said. “I know there were a number of really great candidates for this position, so to be interviewed and considered among them is an honor.
“I look forward to getting started and building on the success that Redland Middle already has had. When I came to this county four years ago at Wetumpka High School, it did not take long to realize how special this place is. I love the community, and I look forward to continuing to build Redland Middle into an even greater place.”
From new administrators to expanded academic opportunities, Tuesday’s board meeting highlighted a school system preparing for the future while investing in the people who will help guide Elmore County students for years to come.
