By By Adam Prestridge
Although Beth Drew will be leaving the Escambia County School System in July to take a job with the Alabama State Department of Education, she doesn’t feel like a ‘goodbye’ is in order.
Escambia County School board member W.J. Grissett made the motion to accept Drew’s employment change with “great reluctance.”
Drew, who has been with the school system for 25 years and currently serves as the county’s elementary supervisor, has accepted a job offer with the state to be an Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) Regional Partner, a position she has been offered numerous times.
Drew taught first through seventh grades in Flomaton, served as assistant principal at Flomaton Elementary and was principal for six years at Rachel Patterson Elementary prior to taking on the role as elementary supervisor two years ago. She said her most recent change was not a tough one to make.
In her new role, Drew will assist county central office contacts; helping them in the areas of reading they believe they need the most assistance in. She will review data from that particular school and will determine where the most help is needed. She will then assist the school in meeting those objectives.
In addition to working in Escambia County, Drew will also work in Covington, Conecuh and Butler counties and Brewton City Schools.
Hines said the board would advertise a year at a time per state contract for a replacement for Drew.
In other business, the board:
The board approved the Smart Links rate of pay as follows: lead teacher, $25 per hours; certified teachers, $22.50 per hour; community educators, $15 per hour; college mentors, $10 per hour; student mentors, $7 per hour and bus drivers, $32 per day.