DCS board votes Infinger as new USJ principal

The Demopolis City Schools Board of Education voted on a new principal for U.S. Jones Elementary during a special called meeting Thursday afternoon. The mantle will fall to Tori Infinger following the retirement of Leon Clark at the conclusion of the school year.

““She has a great wealth of knowledge in education. She has a lot of experience in the same grade levels we serve at U.S. Jones. She has worked at the state department. She knows the content. She knows what we’re looking for in a principal at U.S. Jones,” Demopolis City Schools Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff said. “We brought her in for two interviews. We had a committee interview at one point with her. I just think she has a lot in her toolbox and I’m excited to see what she can do at U.S. Jones.”

Infinger – a native of DeFuniak Springs, Florida – comes to Demopolis from Brewbaker Intermediate School in Montgomery where she has been serving as the assistant principal.

“My expertise is definitely in the grade bands of third through five because I currently work at an intermediate school,” Infinger said of what she figures to bring to the table at USJ. “Definitely curriculum, that is something that I am very knowledgeable about and serving students with a diverse background, helping different types of students and meeting their needs.”

Infinger has a background that spans from being a third grade teacher at West DeFuniak Elementary in Florida to her present assistant principal role. In between, she obtained a graduate degree in Instructional Leadership from AUM as well as teaching in both the fifth and sixth grades. Additionally, Infinger worked in the accountability department of the Alabama Department of Education.

“I decided that was not for me. I was in a cubicle. There was no one to talk to. I was like, ‘This is not who I am. I want to be around children,’” Infinger said of herself before noting the long-term professional value of the experience. “I learned a lot about how legislation plays a role in education.”

As she readies to tackle her new role in Demopolis, Infinger points to the basic building blocks of education as key to success.

“Building relationships with students. That’s where it starts at,” she said. “A lot of times we focus on academics and we have to also focus on the social and emotional side, getting to know our students, meeting their needs, and figuring out how to best serve them.”

Infinger will take the helm of a standout elementary institution that was recognized as a CLAS Banner School earlier this year as it bids farewell to Clark, who leaves behind a tremendous legacy within Demopolis City Schools.

“He’s amazing and if you ask any of the teachers, they’ll tell you the same thing. He has meant a lot to this system,” Kallhoff said. “In his time at the high school, he did so much in organization at that school and he brought that same organization to U.S. Jones. I’m going to miss him, but I’m so happy for him. He has put his time in and I’m incredibly happy for him being able to retire and enjoy his life.”

Other action items in the meeting included the hiring of Victoria Paige Gandy as elementary education teacher at Westside Elementary and Victoria Ann Keen as Secondary Science Teacher pending her graduation and subsequent certification in May.

The board also accepted the resignations of Hannah Kennedy, special education teacher at Westside Elementary as well as the retirement of Becky Holley, kindergarten teacher. Sue Moore will join the list of active substitutes upon her retirement while Allie Marques declined the job offer she received as a result of the April 16 board meeting.

The board also swore in its newest member, Harris Hurst.