By KATIE MCDOWELL/Lifestyles Editor

The Shelby County Board of Education approved new principals for two schools at its April 19 meeting.

The new principals are Dr. Patricia LeQuier at Oak Mountain Intermediate School and Dr. Wesley Hester at Thompson Sixth Grade Center. The board also approved Tracy LeSieur as the assistant principal at Calera Middle School.

Prior to her new role, LaQuier served as the assistant principal of Oak Mountain Intermediate for 13 years.

LaQuier said the school system’s professional and leadership development is “unsurpassed” and credited it with preparing her for her new role.

“It is an absolute privilege to be a leader in the Shelby County Schools,” she said.

LaQuier has served in many roles as an educator for more than 30 years, including counselor, drop-out prevention counselor and program developer. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Florida, a master’s degree in counselor education from the University of Central Florida and a doctorate in education from the University of Alabama/University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Hester is currently the assistant principal at Columbiana Middle School. He has 10 years of experience as an educator, including teaching sixth grade reading, science and social studies. He has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Athens State University, a master’s degree from the University of North Alabama and a doctorate in instructional leadership from the University of Alabama.

Hester also complimented the system’s leadership development programs.

“There’s no system that better pinpoints … cultivates their leaders,” he said.

LeSieur is currently teaching sixth grade math at Brookwood Forest Elementary School in Mountain Brook, but taught at Thompson Middle School and Oak Mountain Middle School in the past.

“I’m extremely excited to be back in Shelby County and I look forward to working with Brent and the students and faculty in our new facility,” she said.

LeSieur, who has 22 years teaching middle school in Alabama, Georgia and Texas, has a bachelor’s degree curriculum and instruction from Texas A&M University and a master’s of education from North Texas University.