GENTRY — In a special meeting on Tuesday, June 7, Gentry School Board hired a new intermediate school principal, a high school boys' basketball coach and a vocational-agriculture teacher, as well as approving of other staff changes and new hires.
At the recommendation of the Gentry Intermediate School Screening Committee, appointed to review candidates for the top post at the school, WaKeeta Neal was hired as the new intermediate school principal. Neal has been a teacher in the school's gifted and talented program for five years and was an elementary school teacher prior to that. She replaces Denise Waters, who resigned at the close of the current school year.
Brent Hester, former basketball coach at Shiloh Christian, was hired to be Gentry High School boys' basketball coach and a teacher. Hester has coached at Shiloh Christian and Fayetteville High School. Hester is married and has three children, two of whom will be enrolled in Gentry schools in the fall (in the high school and the intermediate school). He replaces Sean Price, who resigned.
Jeremy Mabry was hired as the new vocational-agriculture teacher at the high school. Mabry was recommended by the screening committee which reviewed applicants. He replaces David Nelson, who retired at the close of the current school year after many years of service.
Also approved by the board was the resignation of Rachael White as intermediate school media specialist and Karen Florer as cafeteria cook.
Tammy Weeks was hired to teach fourth grade; Amelia Valdez, to teach third grade; Shaumbry Patterson, to teach fourth grade; Robert Henderson to teach math, coach wrestling and be an assistant varsity football coach; and Belinda Haslett to serve as part-time facilities and transportation secretary.
Paul Ernest was given additional duty as the high school varsity girls' softball coach. Erica Jones and Ayla Smartt will be assistant girls' softball coaches and split the stipend for that duty.
Transferred by the board were Angela Edwards from kindergarten teacher to intermediate school media specialist and Shannon Holland from fourth-grade teacher to intermediate school Title 1. At her request, Lynda Kissire's daily hours in the cafeteria were reduced from six to five.
The board also approved the creation of two new positions: technology secretary and a second vocational-agriculture teacher to expand the program. Randy Barrett, district superintendent, noted that the district used to have two vo-ag teachers in the past.