HOOVER &8212; The Hoover Board of Education named an assistant superintendent and filled its new chief academic officer position at its monthly meeting last week.

Carol Barber, recently principal of Simmons Middle School, will start as assistant superintendent June 18.

&8220;I&8217;m looking forward to working with all the schools and their administration and faculty,&8221; Barber said.

Barber originally started with Hoover City Schools at the central office before moving to Simmons Middle. She has also taught at schools in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas and Colorado, served as a central office administrator in Virginia and Alabama and is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

As she readies herself for her new role, Barber said her initial focus is to support the board and superintendent to &8220;make sure that our kids have the very best.&8221;

The board also approved Tennessee educator Kenneth Jarnagin as the system&8217;s chief academic officer.

&8220;It&8217;s very, very exciting for me, especially to be in a position where we are in fact creating the position,&8221; Jarnagin said. &8220;We can do exactly what needs to be done.&8221;

Jarnagin has 29 years of experience in Tennessee and most recently served as principal of Maryville High School. He holds a bachelor&8217;s and master&8217;s degree in education from the University of Tennessee, an education specialist degree from Lincoln Memorial University and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis from East Tennessee University.

In his new position, Jarnagin will direct academic and instructional programs aimed at improving academic achievement and learning. He will also oversee curriculum, with directors of this area reporting to him.

&8220;I see this position as one that evolves over the next couple of years,&8221; Jernagin said. Though he and the board will establish the academic officer post as they go, he already has a game plan.

&8220;I have a philosophy that if you want to help a school system, you get as close to the students as possible. You work from the inside out,&8221; he said.

Jarnagin starts July 2.

Base salary for both positions is $124,000, according to the superintendent&8217;s office. A compensation package not to exceed $6,000 is also included, though details are still being finalized