For the last six months, Helena High School has had a single person on staff: Principal Jay Peoples. The school made some key hires in late December when the Shelby County Board of Education approved a head football coach, lead counselor and band director.

Arab High School head football coach Watt Parker was approved as head football coach at Helena High. Current Pelham High School band director Jeffrey Burnside was named the new band director and Kim Bailey was named lead counselor.

Helena High doesn’t open until August 2014, but Peoples, formerly principal at Chelsea High, has carried an enormous responsibility since he officially began his new position in July 2103. We applaud Peoples for his vision and leadership in making these first big decisions.

All three new hires have experience in education, not to mention the passion and patience required for leading students – something Peoples pointed out in a news release he emailed out shortly after the school board approved the hires.

Peoples was full of praise for his new staff. “Gifted,” “talented” and “model of excellence” were just a few of the superlatives included in his news release.

Combined, Peoples and his new staff have more than 110 years of experience in schools. Not only that, but they have experience in getting positive results – in the classroom, on the field or in the band room.

Helena High has a mascot and school colors, and construction on the new school is set to finish in March 2014.

There is still a lot of work to do at the school, but we at the Shelby County Reporter have faith that Helena High will be everything the Shelby County School System and the people of Helena want it to be – and more.

Helena High has a bright future ahead, and we’re glad to see such passionate and capable people at the helm.

Go Huskies!