By KATIE MCDOWELL/General Manager

COLUMBIANA – The Shelby County Board of Education approved April Brand as the Helena High School assistant principal during its March 20 meeting.

Brand is currently the assistant principal at Oak Mountain High and has more than 17 years of experience in public education.

Brand said her time at Oak Mountain High has been “incredible,” but she is looking forward to her new role.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to help open Helena High,” she said.

Brand received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in secondary education from Jacksonville State University. She received certification in education administration and an educational specialist degree in instructional leadership from Samford University. Currently, she is enrolled at University of Alabama at Birmingham pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership.

Helena High School is schedule to open to students August 2014. The school hired a head football coach, band director and lead counselor to its staff in December 2013. Jay Peoples, former Chelsea High principal, was named Helena High principal in May 2013.