Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By DANIEL LOCKE | Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA ­– The Shelby County Schools Board of Education approved the appointment of two new administrators at its meeting on Thursday, June 3, at noon.

Cynthia Monroe was named the principal of Wilsonville Elementary School and Haley Franks was named the principal of Montevallo Elementary School.

Monroe previously served as an assistant principal at Oak Mountain Elementary School. She graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood elementary education and earned her master’s degree in school counseling and certification in instructional leadership from the University of West Alabama. Monroe has 20 years of experience in education under her belt.

“I’m honored and excited for this opportunity to serve as principal of Wilsonville Elementary School,” Monroe said. “I’m truly grateful, and will strive to empower the teachers, staff, students and families to work toward excellence each day.

Monroe does not take her new position at Wilsonville Elementary lightly and is eager to begin making an impact in the school.

“I know how special of a place Wilsonville is, and I can’t wait to begin this journey,” Monroe said. Thank you so much for this opportunity.”

Franks previously served as the principal of Calera Intermediate School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary and collaborative education from Troy University and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Montevallo. Franks also brings more than two decades of experience in education with her.

“Thank you all so much, Dr. (Lewis) Brooks and the board for trusting me to return home to Montevallo,” Franks said. “We currently live there, we’ve lived there for several years. My children attended Montevallo, I currently have a son at the high school. I’ve always been a Bulldog at night and an Eagle by day. I’m excited to be orange and blue all day now.”

Returning to Montevallo is an opportunity Franks is appreciative of.

“I’m thrilled to get back to my roots there,” Franks said. “I loved my time there as a teacher and as an assistant principal. I’m just tickled to take the reins and run with it. It’s a great community and a great staff. I’m excited to get started.”

The board’s next meeting will take place on Thursday, July 10 at 5 p.m. at the Central Office in Columbiana.