The county schools will downsize from three area superintendents to two, Dr. Jim Scales announced.
One of the area superintendents, Elaine Swafford, recently left to rejoin Chattanooga State Community College.
Beginning July 1, the area superintendent configuration - unveiled last year as part of a reorganization of the central office - will be reduced to the two areas. Each area will have one area superintendent and two operations directors: one focusing on elementary schools and the other on secondary schools.
Don Beard, who is currently Area I superintendent, will continue to supervise Area I which includes the Red Bank, Hixson, Signal Mountain, Lookout Mountain and Soddy Daisy communities. Area I will expand to include schools in District 6 including the Lookout Valley, Clifton Hills and East Lake communities along with Hamilton County High School and the Middle College program.
David Cowan, currently Area I operations director, will be the secondary operations director. The elementary operations director for Area I will be appointed in July.
James Colbert, who is currently Area III operations director, will become the new Area II superintendent. This area will include schools in the communities of Ooltewah, East Brainerd, Harrison and Tyner as well as the downtown and East Ridge areas.
Carol Langston, currently Area II human resources director, will become the Area II elementary operations director, while Robert Sharpe, currently principal of Central High School, will become the Area II secondary operations director.
“This was an opportunity for us to realign our Area Superintendent configuration to better serve our schools,” Dr. Scales said of the new area assignments. “These administrators rose to the top in terms of their abilities and skills to help our schools and students succeed. I know they will work hard to support our principals and work with their schools to improve student achievement.”
Angela Daniel, who is currently assistant principal at Orchard Knob Middle School, will become the new coordinator for Middle College High School at Chattanooga State. She replaces Ms. Barbara Whitehead, who retired this month.
All positions are effective July 1.