This week, each of the three school systems in our county underwent changes in administration that will have a strong bearing on the direction those schools go in the near future.

The Demopolis City Schools’ superintendent, Dr. Al Griffin, began his tenure on Thursday.

John Essex named a new principal as part of a school improvement grant initiative that will bring new teaching methods and new technologies to that school. Luke Taylor III, who also just began his first days here, is very excited about the new era the grant and its rewards will bring to JEHS.

Two other items are not yet official, but are very likely to take place. Linden City Schools offered the position of superintendent and Linden Elementary School principal to Dr. Tyrone Smith. Demopolis Middle School principal Clarence Jackson has been offered a similar position at Southside High School, taking Taylor’s former position.

These are exciting times for our schools, and we encourage our citizens to get behind the schools to help make these transitions smooth ones.