New principals welcomed at Meet and Greet

Lab 212 at Demopolis Middle School hummed with conversations Thursday afternoon as teachers, parents, children and members of the community gathered to meet and welcome the three new principals for Demopolis City Schools.

Derrick Hester, Bridgett Powell and Tisha Lewis began their duties June 1 and already have been immersed in planning for the 2019-2020 school year only two months away.

Hester is no stranger to the city. He returns to DMS where he taught math for six years. The popular instructor earned Teacher of the Year for 2008-2009.

“It’s just great to be back here,” Hester said. “It’s where it all started for me.”

As head of the school instead of being a teacher, “I’m looking forward to leading another school.”

This year DMS will implement the Leader in Me program which began at Westside Elementary three years ago. Hester believes it will work well with the academic focus he is starting called “Leaders of Their Own Learning.” He said the two will be a “great blend.”

Bridgett Powell takes over the reins at U.S. Jones Elementary School, very aware that it has had three principals in three years.

An avowed “hugger,” Powell greeted her new students will a smile and a gentle embrace.

“The teachers have been wonderful,” she said. and has found Demopolis to be very friendly and welcoming.

Powell doesn’t have plans to change much this first year but to focus on student achievement. She also is excited about the Leader in Me program. Her brother, a principal of a Miami school, has used it and highly recommends it.

Tisha Lewis didn’t have much chance to get acclimated to WES. She walked into a very busy school the first day, with both summer camp and kindergarten camp well under way.

“Westside is already running in the right direction,” Lewis said. Everything is going smoothly.

She is excited about continuing Leader in Me. While she hasn’t been involved with it personally, she has taken part in the book studies to prepare for it.