By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

Chris Tangle, new principal of Thompson High School, grew up in the Vance-Brookwood area during the ‘70s and ‘80s graduating from Brookwood High School in 1990. While in school, he played football and baseball landing a baseball scholarship at Marion Military Institute.

Tangles job history includes University of West Alabama (Livingston), Demopolis High School where over a span of several years he taught, coached and served as assistant principal, the Marengo County Board of Education where he oversaw transportation and maintenance, a brief time back to Demopolis and then on to principal at Saraland Elementary.
Spotting the Thompson High School opening on the “Teach Alabama” website led Tangle to the process of interviewing and ultimately being hired.
Tangle is very excited to be “almost back home” and looks forward to continuing Thompson’s excellent reputation and implementing new goals, dreams and realities for the Alabaster City School System.
“Keeping your own tax money to spend on the needs of your school is an enormous asset. Our new high school in 2016 or 2017 is going to be one of the most outstanding schools around – so much bigger and with more subjects offered, advanced technology, outstanding extra curricular activities and of course a class act sports program.”
Son of Bob and the late Rita Tangle (his mom recently passed away after a battle with leukemia) and the “only boy in the bunch,” Tangle has three sisters. Wife Michelle is originally from Dauphin Island and naturally loves the beach. Tangle loves the mountains just a little more. Children, Hunter, age 14, will be a freshman at THS and Kelsey, age 11, a sixth grader at the Sixth Grade Center.
Tangle believes in living in and supporting your own school system. The family is settling into their Alabaster home this month.
A converted Alabama fan (now the family is united), Tangle also enjoys golf, hunting, fishing and boating.
“If you come to sporting events, you will see me there. I’m hands-on in all capacities, want to increase our number of AP students, support a safe and healthy atmosphere for all students, promote extracurricular activities and provide all necessary monetary resources for our classrooms and sports programs to give Thompson High School “the winning edge.”