Local News
Billy Coleman announces bid for county superintendent
By Patrick McCreless
staff writer
The Cullman County School system has given much to Billy Coleman and now he wants to give something back.
Coleman, who is a retired West Point High School principal, announced his candidacy for Cullman County superintendent at the county Republican Party breakfast Saturday.
“I love the Cullman County school system,” Coleman said. “I worked in it for the majority of my educational career and I would love to be able to serve the system in this capacity.”
The election for county superintendent will not be held until November 2010. The position is currently held by democrat Hank Allen.
Coleman said if elected, he plans to insure the school system is a service to the public.
“I would see that position (superintendent) as a position of service,” Coleman said. “The administration level ... the central office employees are there to serve the schools. They need to be more like servants.”
Coleman said communication and positive thinking would also play a large role in his administration.
“Communication and listening would be a big part of what I’d be about,” he said. “And I’m going to be totally positive about everything. And I believe in honesty and integrity. I won’t compromise on those things.”
Though retired, Coleman currently coaches football at Brewer High School.
“That’s what I love to do,” he said.
Coleman began his 25-year education career in 1983 as a teacher at Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City. After several years, he came to West Point to be a teacher and a football coach. He later left to teach at another school, but eventually came back to West Point, where he worked as the principal for eight years.
Coleman was acknowledged for his administration skills in 1999 when he was chosen as Alabama’s administrator of the year.
“It had to do with the things I went through after the burning of the school,” Coleman said.
A large section of West Point High School was destroyed by fire in 1996. Students were required to attend class in portable classrooms for more than two years until a new school was constructed.
To date, Coleman has written two Christian-oriented books during his spare time.
“Both books are Christian inspiration books through the eyes of an educator,” Coleman said.
For the last 30 years, Coleman has been married to his wife Shireen, who is the principal at West Point Elementary. He has two sons, one of whom is an architect while the other is a teacher.
“I’d also like to mention Tim Garner ... he was a high school senior who moved in with us when he had a tough situation in his life,” Coleman said. “He’s really been an important part of the family and been like a son.”
Like his other son and wife, Garner is now a teacher. Coleman said his sister-in-law is a teacher as well.
“We’re just an education family,” he said.
‰ Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
- Local News
-
-
City tables mediator idea
The City of Cullman will go ahead with the Duck River Dam plan and not support the county’s proposal to establish a new regional water board and build a new treatment plant at Smith Lake.
-
City tables mediator idea
The City of Cullman will go ahead with the Duck River Dam plan and not support the county’s proposal to establish a new regional water board and build a new treatment plant at Smith Lake.
-
Poultry farmers: Keep water rates low
For poultry farmer Dale Harbin, the secondary water source debate has a simple solution: Just keep the rates low.
-
Two commissioners push for Smith Lake treatment plant, regional water board
Cullman County commissioners Doug Williams and Wayne Willingham on Monday proposed a new plan for a second water source in the area — a plan they say will be cheaper, quicker to implement and more community involved than the City of Cullman’s preferred Duck River Dam project.
-
Water on the brain
The City of Cullman and the Cullman County Commission have their own proposals for a second water source for the area, and neither group has shown signs of relenting to the other’s plan.
But after Monday, that could change. -
Signing on
Four local water authority representatives signed contracts Tuesday to join with the city of Cullman’s Duck River dam reservoir project.
-
Couple arrested for chemical endangerment of children
Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two Berlin residents Saturday for allegedly keeping meth and syringes near two children.
-
Accreditation answer coming by early 2010
The Cullman County Board of Education took a step closer to district accreditation this week, though it will be next year until they know if their request is approved.
-
Robots fight to win
Holly Pond High School freshman Jordan Dover was excited when she had the opportunity to get involved with the Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) robotics competition.
-
ServSafe Program becomes mandatory Jan. 1, 2010
The Cullman County Health Department is sponsoring a ServSafe food safety class Nov. 17-20 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Grumpy’s Pizza.
- More Local News Headlines
-
City tables mediator idea
