Brookhaven School District Superintendent Ben Cox on Wednesday announced three administrative changes at the district. 

Taking over the position of principal at Alexander Junior High School will be Patrick Hardy, who served this past year as assistant principal of BHS and was named 2014-2015’s Administrator of the Year. Clay Fuller will be the new director of band, taking over from Clay Whittington. Nancy Wallace will be the new technology director.

The changes were announced as part of the district’s annual end-of-year staff meeting, which took place in the auditorium at Brookhaven High School. Teachers of the Year and Parents of the Year were also recognized at the meeting.

BSD Director of Finance Susan Cochran announced the 2015 recipients of the Urban Teacher Appreciation Grant. Each $1,000 grant assists recipients seeking to continue their pursuit of higher education

degrees.

Shunta Davis, one of the recipients of the Urban Teacher Appreciation Grant, said she’s using the grant toward her studies to become a specialist in instructional leadership.

“I want to learn more so I can better help my students,” Davis said. “When I get older these are going to be the people such as doctors and lawyers who will be helping me. I look at it like I’m helping their futures and my future.”

Davis was also Teacher of the Year from Lipsey School.

The nine 2015 Urban Grant recipients were as follows: Kathleen Black, BES; Tommy Clopton, athletic director; Shunta Davis, Lipsey; Felicia Durr, BHS; Nancy Fisher, BHS; Jillian Fuller, AJH; Kelly Nance, BES; Kathleen Robinson, Mamie Martin; Stacy Walker, AJH.

Parents of the 2014-2015 year were as follows: Kelly Perkins, Maime Martin; Suzanne Britt, BES; Jennifer Adcock, AJH; Angie Currie, BHS; and Angela Moore, Brookhaven Technical Center. District Parent of the Year came from Lipsey School: Gerri Miller.

Teachers of the 2014-2015 year were as follows: Laura Barrington, Mamie Martin; Kelly Nance, BES; Shunta Davis, Lipsey; Preston Wilson, BHS; Kristen Williams, BTC; and Kristy Smith, Fannie Mullins School. District Teacher of the Year came from AJH: LaTronda Gayten.

Service pins were given out to BSD faculty and staff who have dedicated five or more years to the district. Receiving service pins for five years of work were Rose Allen and Perry Lee Price.

Receiving pins for 10 years of service were Kimberly Arnold, Ann Banks, Monica Bates, Joyce Coleman, Rebecca Dean, LaTronda Gayten, Rachel Powell, Amy Smith, Laura Walker, Karitta Warren and Jerrold Willis.

Fifteen-year service pins were given to Richard Dow, Allison Francis, Pamela Herrington, Chasity R. Moak, Melinda Kay Moore, Secundrea Perkins, Debra Price, Albert Reed, Deanna Roberts and Martha Wolfe.

For 20 years of service, receiving pins were Frances Kelly, Rob McCreary, Kathy Shackelford, Cathey J. Smith and Jennifer Hutson. For 25 years, receiving pins were Deborah Davis, Sybil Freeman, June Hall, Terrie Hall, Amy Rutland, Julie W. Smith. Receiving pins for 30 years of service were Linda Davis, Margaret Demyers, Doris Jointer and Greg McNulty.

Receiving a pin for her 45 years of dedication to BSD was Myrtis Holmes.

“If you had the opportunity to receive any of her food you’d understand how special this is,” Deputy Superintendent Rod Henderson said about Holmes.

Also honored during the meeting were retirees Jackie Stroud, Lautrice Taylor, Shelia King, Celeste McNulty-Smith, Rose Banks and Dianne Jordan.

“We’ve had a wonderful year; we went through some tragedy, but you made the difference in so many students’ lives. This faculty and staff is more dedicated than any other I’ve ever seen,” Cox said. “Summer is here, and it’s a really good time for teachers. Enjoy the next few months, so you can relax and come back refreshed, so we can do it all over again next year.”