By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–On Thursday, May 14, the Shelby County Board of Education unanimously approved current Helena High School Assistant Principal April Brand to assume her new role as Helena High School principal.

Brand has more than 17 years experience in public education, and prior to coming to Helena, Brand served as an assistant principal at Oak Mountain High School and is a program area specialist for Shelby County Schools.

Brand received her master’s degree in secondary education from Jacksonville State and completed her certification in educational administration and her educational specialist degree in instructional leadership from Samford University. Brand is currently pursuing a doctorate at UAB in educational leadership.

Brand will replace current Helena High School Principal Jay Peoples who was recently appointed to serve the role of High School Coordinator at the Shelby County Schools Central Office.

“I just want to say thank you so much for this opportunity,” said Brand. “I am excited and honored to be the second principal of Helena High School and so thankful for the support of so many people.”

Brand said Helena wants to be the best it can be in all areas.

“We want to be the best that we can possibly be. Whether it’s academics, fine arts or athletics we want to be the best we can be,” said Brand. “That sense of pride in what we do is going to be a focal point for our school and already has been and will continue.”

Brand also noted that it wouldn’t be a big jump from going to assistant principal to principal.

“The transition will be incredibly smooth,” said Brand. “I’ve been on the job for 14 months and prior to the school opening I was involved in the hiring of the vast majority of the teachers so the transition will be smooth.”