UCS adds two posts; Gibbs, Starks join staff
LIVINGSTON —Leslie Gibbs, former Demopolis High School teacher, has been named the director of operations for culture and support at the University Charter School. Gibbs joins Tonya Starks from Choctaw County schools who is the secondary principal.
Both positions are new leadership roles at the school, part of UCS’s progressive plan for a growing enrollment and continued expansion of a grade per year. The school will serve grades Pre-k through 11 this fall and add the 12th grade in 2022.
“The addition of these two campus leaders signifies the school’s progress toward our goals of growth, enrichment, and ability to provide an educational opportunity for students and a meaningful experience for their families,” said Dr. J.J. Wedgworth, head of school.
In her role Gibbs will oversee the areas of health and wellness, communications and marketing, recruitment and enrollment, reception, maintenance and custodial, transportation, food services, technology, compliance and accountability. Her duties also include guidance and counseling, mental health, family engagement, RTI/intervention, special education, 504 planning, the gifted program and ESL.
Gibbs holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a Master of Education in secondary language arts, both from the University of West Alabama. She also holds Master of Education certification in instructional leadership from UWA. She has taught courses at UWA and was previously the career tech director and curriculum coordinator for Choctaw County Schools. She has also worked for A+ College Ready and Educational Testing Service for several years.
As secondary principal at UCS, Starks assumes duties related to grades 7 and up. The secondary principal is the instructional leader for teachers in those grades, including professional development, as well as students’ career and technical education, career coaching, safety, family engagement, conduct, extracurriculars, athletics and booster club.
Starks holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a Master of Education in instructional leadership, both from UWA. She also holds class A administration and class B elementary education certifications. She taught at Southern Choctaw Elementary School for 15 years before being named assistant principal at Choctaw County High School in 2019.