By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HOOVER—The Hoover Board of Education appointed two principals, recognized faculty accomplishments and thanked Interim Superintendent Dr. Jim Reese during a June 15 meeting. The meeting was also Dr. Kathy Murphy’s first as superintendent of Hoover City Schools.

The BOE appointed two new principals, Bluff Park Elementary School Principal Terry Lamar and Spain Park High School Principal Larry Giangrosso. Giangrosso assumed the role of SPHS principal from Dr. Kenneth Jarnagin.

“I want to thank Dr. Kenneth Jarnagin for all the things he did for Spain Park and for me, personally,” Giangrosso said. “I really look forward to working with the students, serving the students, faculty, staff of Spain Park, the community and the parents.”

Hoover City Schools teachers Minnette Wiggins and Dr. Pamela Harman were recognized during the June 15 meeting. Trace Crossings Elementary School’s Wiggins was named Alabama’s 2015-2016 Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Harman, a Spain Park High School science teacher, was inducted into the Jacksonville State University Teacher Hall of Fame. Harman joins 12 other Hoover City Schools teachers in the JSU Teacher Hall of Fame.

“Once again, our teachers brought back honors to the city of Hoover,” Dr. Ron Dodson, assistant superintendent for instruction, said. “I’ve known Pamela for a long, long time. She’s spent her entire teaching career in this district.”

Finally, the BOE and the school system thanked Reese for his service as interim superintendent of Hoover City Schools. Reese was appointed interim superintendent on Dec. 19, 2014, following former Superintendent Andy Craig’s resignation.

Reese served as interim superintendent of Hoover City Schools while the BOE searched for a permanent replacement. Murphy was selected for the superintendent position on April 30 and began serving her role on June 1.

“For many, many years in my career, I’d heard the name Jim Reese,” Murphy said. “Dr. Reese, I am grateful to you for your leadership and your kindness to me as I’m transitioning into this job.”

Reese also thanked the school system, BOE and Hoover community.

“I cannot thank you enough for what you’ve done for me,” Reese said. “I could not have chose another school system, in the state of Alabama or in the U.S., to serve as interim superintendent better than this one… You couldn’t have picked a better person than Dr. Murphy to be superintendent… I have learned so much from her in these past two weeks.”

In other business, the BOE approved the school system’s textbooks and the Hoover City Schools Foundation awarded 13 grants to teachers at nine schools totaling more than $20,000. Of the 13 grants, one was awarded to Berry Middle School and three to Spain Park High School.