Former Sandy

Creek High assistant principal Oatha Mann is moving across the street

to assume the principalship at Flat Rock Middle. He replaces Tyrone Jones,

who has made the transition from middle to high school and will be one

of four assistant principals at McIntosh High this year.

Mann was hired

in 1999 as an assistant principal at Sandy Creek where he served as the

athletic director, peer mediation liaison and advance placement testing

coordinator. He came to Fayette from Salem High in Conyers, here he taught

10th grade world history.

Mann says his

vision for Flat Rock is to develop an atmosphere that generates positive

relationships between students and faculty.

"These

relationships will create an atmosphere where life-long learning will

take place. As a member of this culture, everyone will strive for success

in every phase of life," he said.

As Mann prepares

to take on his new role as principal, he credits his former boss, Sandy

Creek Principal Roy Rabold, with preparing him for the job. Referring

to Rabold as a role model, Mann says he has left an impression of the

importance of instruction, collaboration with peers and school discipline

that he plans to carry over to Flat Rock.

North Fayette's

assistant principal Jade Bolton has moved up to the principal's position

at the school. She replaces Louis Robinson, who left to become the new

principal at East Fayette Elementary.

Bolton has

been employed by the school system since 2001 when Robinson hired her

as his assistant principal. Prior to coming to Fayette, Bolton had worked

in the Kern County School District in Bakersfield, Calif., as a principal/coordinator

of special education. Previously she had held administrative positions

with the Little Rock School District in Little Rock, Ark. In all, Bolton

has 20 years of experience in teaching and leadership.

She says it

is her desire and purpose to be the head cheerleader for North Fayette's

mission statement: to identify and enhance the giftedness in each child.

"We will

continue to utilize technology and best practices in the Learning Focus

Model to increase learning and achievement. It is my plan to utilize the

curriculum choices that we provide in our school to give each student

the opportunity to work at his or her individual level of ability. The

intent is to challenge our students to their fullest potential,"

Bolton explains.

After serving

as North Fayette's assistant principal from 1996-1999 and then as principal

for four years, Louis Robinson will take over as principal at East Fayette

Elementary. He replaces Faith Hardnett, who is now the director of pupil

services.

While at North

Fayette, Robinson was instrumental in helping to establish close ties

between the school and community. Through these ties, a tutoring program

was developed that consisted of community members volunteering their time

on a daily basis to help students in math, reading and writing. He also

helped to create Community Day, which brought North Fayette students,

parents and faulty together with nearby neighborhoods.