The Oconee County Board of Education unanimously approved Jennifer Whitaker as the new Chief Academic Officer and Sara Bailey as the next Principal of High Shoals Elementary School at its work session on Monday.

Ms. Whitaker is currently serving as the Oconee County Schools Director of Elementary Education. She will replace Dr. Susan Stancil, who has been chosen as the Superintendent of Morgan County Charter Schools. Ms. Bailey is currently an Assistant Principal at Malcom Bridge Middle School. She will succeed Tamara Goforth, who announced last month that she would be departing at the end of the school year.

Ms. Whitaker and Ms. Bailey will assume their new duties on June 2.

“We are pleased to announce that Jennifer Whitaker and Sara Bailey will be taking on these new leadership positions with Oconee County Schools,” Superintendent Jason Branch said. “Each of these experienced educators has a strong history of service within the district. They offer valuable experience and a long-term dedication to our students and their growth. We look forward to their leadership and their ongoing efforts to achieve high-quality outcomes in these roles.”

Ms. Whitaker has been a member of the Oconee County Schools family since 2003. She previously taught at Oconee County Primary and High Shoals Elementary, served as Assistant Principal at Oconee County Primary and Rocky Branch Elementary, and was the Principal for Oconee County Primary and High Shoals Elementary. Ms. Whitaker has spent the last year as the OCS Director of Elementary Education.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Board and Dr. Branch for their support,” Ms. Whitaker said. “My goal is to keep fostering learning environments where students and teachers can thrive as I draw from my experiences as an administrator and teacher. We will continue to cultivate a tradition of academic achievement and lifelong learning.”

Ms. Bailey first joined OCS in 2006, starting as a teacher at Malcom Bridge Middle and High Shoals Elementary. After serving as an Assistant Principal at Hull-Sanford Elementary in Madison County, she returned to the district as an Assistant Principal at Malcom Bridge Middle. Ms. Bailey is completing her second year at MBMS.

“I am so appreciative of the Board of Education and Dr. Branch for the confidence they have shown,” Ms. Bailey said. “High Shoals holds a special place in my heart, and I am incredibly excited to be returning. Those years were some of the most formative and rewarding of my career. This really feels like a homecoming.”

Also at Monday's work session:

• The Board heard reports from Dr. Branch as well as from Teaching and Learning, Student Services, Special Education, Technology, Operations, Operations - Facilities, Human Resources, and Communications.

• Dr. Stancil submitted Advanced Placement Psychology Curriculum as an action item for Teaching and Learning.

• Dr. Kevin Yancey, the Director of Student Services, presented five out-of-state field trips as action items.

• Chief Technology Officer Tony McCullers provided intercom and classroom audio bid tabulations for Malcom Bridge and Oconee County middle schools as action items.

• Fred Ricketson, the Director of Facilities, submitted the Certificate of the Board for Rocky Branch Elementary School renovations and modifications as an action item.

• Chief Human Resources Officer Justin Cofer presented Mark III Employee Benefits as a benefits broker as an action item.

• The Board approved the personnel recommendations as presented.

For more information on Monday’s meeting, please click here.

The Board of Education next will have a regular session on Monday, April 21, at 6 p.m., at the Instructional Support Center. All action items will be voted on during that session.

The Board of Education holds meetings in public at the Instructional Support Center. Access to the simultaneous broadcast of the Board of Education meeting will be available on the Oconee County Schools YouTube channel. Meetings will be archived on YouTube within two business days.