Beverly Jenkins

Four Cullman County schools will have new principals in the fall after the Cullman County School Board approved their transfers Tuesday night.

Beginning July 1, Eric Dickerson will be the new principal of Cold Springs High School, Beverly Jenkins will be the new principal of Good Hope Elementary School, Lesley Hembree will be principal of Good Hope Middle School and Steve Miller will be principal of Holly Pond High School.

Dickerson, who was previously an assistant principal and teacher at Cold Springs High School and will be replacing Tim Burleson as principal of CSHS, thanked the board for approving his new position.

“It’s not lost on me this opportunity that you’ve given me, and I look forward so much to working for the betterment of Cold Springs High School, the Cold Springs community and Cullman County Schools as a whole,” he said.

Jenkins, who has entering her 25th year as an educator, is taking over for Susan Melton as principal of Good Hope Elementary School after serving as assistant principal and teacher for Vinemont Elementary and Middle Schools.

“I wanted to thank the board for your trust and faith in me,” she said. “I’m really excited about becoming a Raider, and I’m going to carry all the experiences I’ve gained with me, hopefully, to work hard for everyone there. Hopefully, I won’t let you down and I can prove myself worthy.”

Hembree is Good Hope Middle School’s new principal after the retirement of Alan Dunkling, and she has spent the last three years at the school as assistant principal as part of her 23 years as an educator.

“I appreciate the opportunity,” she said. “I look good in red, and it’s a great day to be a Raider.”

Miller is taking the reins at Holly Pond High School after spending the last 14 years at the school as assistant principal, and will be replacing Kim Butler.

“I know what it means to be from Holly Pond,” he said. “If you cut me, I bleed green.”

Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette welcomed the new principals and all other new personnel to their new schools during the meeting. 

“We’re very excited about our new hires. We’re extremely excited about our new principals and the leadership that you’re going to have at each of those schools,” he said. “We look forward to working with each of you.”