Schools get new leaders

One Columbia County elementary school is getting a familiar face to take over its administrative helm, and two others will be getting new faces.

Michele Sherman vacated her post as the top administrator at Martinez Elementary School this year. She was picked by Columbia County school Superintendent Tommy Price and approved by the school board to take over the ailing Greenbrier Elementary.

In June, Greenbrier Principal Jon Pike accepted a demotion to teacher to conclude a termination hearing. Officials accused him of creating a division among the faculty of the school in his attempts to discover the author of a letter to Associate Superintendent Lauren Williams that accused him of fostering poor teacher morale with his management style.

"(Price) saw that I was able to build a real sense of community at Martinez (Elementary), and that's what we're working on over there," Sherman said.

Sherman said she plans to meet with teachers to discuss their issues prior to the start of school. Once school begins, she also intends to create a parent focus group on school issues.

The focus group will meet monthly for at least the first year of her tenure, she said.

"Of course, instruction is a first priority," she said. "Second to that is bringing together the neighborhoods and just building a real sense of community from within the school and then bringing the outside in as well."

A search is under way for Sherman's replacement at Martinez Elementary, human resources officials said.

Scott Weinand moves from the assistant principal role at Evans Elementary School to the principal's office this school year.

The 42-year-old served as an assistant principal at Evans Elementary for three years before accepting the post of head administrator for the school. He replaced the retired Joy Quinn.

"I'm really excited," Weinand said. "I can't wait to get started this year. I'm really looking forward to it."

Weinand's goal for the school is to maintain the status quo.

"It's a good school," he said. "The test scores are good, the kids are really good and the community is really good," Weinand said.

Before coming to Evans, Weinand taught in Richmond County and was once a paint store manager.

"I come from the business world and now I'm in the education field," he said. "Having both those backgrounds is a plus."