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By RICHARD HARRIS (From the 4-26-06 issue)
“Sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.”
That popular saying sums up Melody Murray’s feelings on agreeing to return to her role as principal at Schley County Elementary School just one short school year after leaving the position. The Schley County Board of Education officially hired Murray for the 2006-07 school year and she will once again become the school’s lead administrator on July 1.
Murray, who resides in Marion County, previously served as SCES principal for five years before leaving to become the curriculum director for the Marion County School System.
“Sometimes when you’re away from something, you realize how much you miss it,” said Murray. “I miss the day-to-day interaction with the children – knowing their names and speaking to them every day.”
The love she has for children is one reason the Schley County
“To me she is the epitome of what an elementary school principal should be,” said Schley Superintendent William Johnson. “She has a great love for the students, as well as for the faculty, but she can be also be firm and stern when she needs to be.”
Johnson added that Murray, who has also worked with RESA as a district reading specialist in addition to her work as curriculum director in Marion County, has a very broad knowledge of early childhood education, which is a “big plus.”
Murray noted that while she is excited about returning as SCES principal, she has enjoyed working in the Marion County School System this year.
“I have really enjoyed my time here,” she said. “Marion County has good schools with dedicated faculty and staff. Schley County has a great school system, too, and it’s not too often that you get a chance to be a part of two systems that are so good.”
Schley County Elementary will lose a grade level at the start of the next school year, as the sixth grade will become part of Schley County Middle-High School, which will bump that school’s student population to more than 700. The Board of Education believed the move would necessitate an additional administrator at the high-middle school and current SCE Principal Lisa Hernandez will become an assistant principal there for the next school year. She will be joining Principal Larry Stubbs and Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Rusty Tondee.