Principal is chosen as learning director

The search for a learning director for Columbia County middle schools has ended.

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The school board selected Greenbrier Middle School Principal Sharon Carson for the job during Tuesday's meeting.

The longtime educator was selected from five internal applicants for the post vacated last month by Mike Lindsey, who took a superintendent's job in Boaz, Ala.

"We couldn't have picked a better person," board member Wayne Bridges said after Carson's approval.

After teaching English in Ohio, Carson joined the school system as a counselor at Riverside Middle School in 1998. She was hired by Superintendent Charles Nagle, who then was principal of the school.

Carson later became assistant principal at Riverside and four years ago was promoted to principal of Greenbrier Middle.

"I wanted this job (director of middle school learning) because I have a particular interest in curriculum and instruction," Carson said. "I am committed to making sure every single middle school student has an opportunity to access the curriculum in a way that he or she learns best."

By using "data-driven instruction," Carson said, she intends to fine-tune the best practices for teachers to boost student achievement.

"I love being a principal, but I'm excited by the opportunities of providing new kinds of programs and models for all of our middle schools, teachers and principals," she said.

Until a new principal is hired for Greenbrier Middle, Carson will remain at the school and pull double duty as principal and a central office director.

"We're in a transition process," she said. "We're trying to move as quickly as we can, but the focus is going to be on finding the best person for Greenbrier Middle School. It's a process we're going to let move as slowly as it needs to, to find the best candidate."

Though excited by the new job, Carson said she'll miss daily contact with students and teachers.

"But I'm comforted knowing that as the middle school director I can continue to work with these teachers and all the other middle schools," she said.