By Rupert Howell

Two new principals were approved and five assistant principals were re-assigned  with two added to their ranks during a special meeting of South Panola School District’s board of trustees June 1.

Julia Bainer will be the new Batesville Middle School principal and Lashunda Hamilton is the new Batesville Intermediate School principal.

Assistant principal Bainer was named Batesville Middle School’s new principal following the resignation of Dr. Carol Gary who served in that position two years.

Bainer taught in the district for 12 years before becoming an administrator in 2000. She holds a BA and Masters in Education from the University of Mississippi and is K-8 teacher certified and holds K-12 Administration Certification.

Assistant principal Hamilton replaces Jeremy Stinson who is leaving the district to take an administrative position in Lafayette County School District. She had previously served as the school’s assistant principal after serving one year as assistant principal at Pope. She received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Ole Miss and has served the school district for 15 years.

Superintendent Dr. Keith Shaffer told trustees that principal interviews were conducted using the “team approach” and called the process “very effective.”

Shaffer noted that it is important that new principals make the delegation process work and don’t continue to do the same functions that they previously were responsible for as assistant principals.

Dr. Deanna Pittman and Shantee Stutts were approved as Batesville Junior High assistant principals.

Valeree Ellis-Barnes, formerly an assistant principal at West Tallahatchie currently employed in Lafayette County, was name an assistant principal at South Panola High School.

Batesville Junior High assistant principal Carey Allen was transferred to Batesville Intermediate School; Pope assistant principal Hank Farris was transferred to Batesville Middle School; Batesville Elementary School assistant principal Rachel Pickett was transferred to Pope and assistant principal Virginia Johnson was approved as counselor at Batesville Intermediate School.

Trustees also approved 22 teacher recommendations and transfers and 11 resignations, retirements and terminations.

Asked if there was an extraordinary number of turnover, Dr. Shaffer replied that there were, but noted that only a few involved disgruntled employees.