“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the dedicated personnel of the Jackson County School District once again. While we are devastated by the loss of Superintendent Kevin Dukes, we are committed to fulfilling his vision for the students in Jackson County. Our long-term goal is to continue moving forward with the construction of the Innovation Center and the development of a broad range of advanced career and academic programs which will prepare our students to achieve and succeed in today’s world. In the short-term, we are working together to ensure that all Jackson County Schools will be ready to welcome back their students on the first day of school and ready to launch a great school year of learning.”
I began my teaching career in a fifth-grade classroom in Georgia. Upon moving to Alabama in 1979, I was fortunate to be able to teach at Stevenson Elementary School where I eventually served as assistant principal for four years. In 1988, I became the first principal at Stevenson Middle School. In 1993, I became the Instructional Coordinator for the school district. Technology was soon added to my responsibilities, and I had the privilege of being a part of the district’s technological development. Eventually, I became Assistant Superintendent. As my retirement became imminent, I was not ready to walk away from the school district that had meant so much to me. My desire to continue to serve led me to run for the Jackson County School Board in 2016. I took office in November of that year and continued to serve until July 5, 2022. In my personal life, I am married to Newton Guess who is a business owner in Stevenson and a lifelong resident of Jackson County. We have a daughter, Katie Guess, who is a Pediatric Emergency Medicine physician at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas.”