New principals named for Oakland High, Blackman Middle

May 16, 2018 at 09:28 am by Voice Wire


John Marshall has been named the next principal of Oakland High School, Director of Schools Don Odom announced today. 

Marshall, currently an assistant principal at Oakland, will succeed Bill Spurlock, who will take over as director of schools on July 1, 2018. 

“Mr. Marshall brings a balance of academic emphasis with a background of experience in Career and Technical Education,” Director Odom said. “He joined with Mr. Spurlock in creating the mechatronics program, a growth of dual credit and dual enrollment offerings, and continuing development of the International Baccalaureate Degree program.”

Marshall has been an assistant principal at Oakland since 2012.   

“Mr. Marshall is a very innovative and effective instructional leader,” Director-elect Spurlock said. “As an assistant principal, he has been a big help implementing our programs here. He knows the Oakland community well and does a great job empowering teachers.”

Marshall joined the Oakland faculty in 2009 as an agriculture teacher after transferring from Riverdale. He also previously taught at Lebanon High School. 

“I am extremely grateful and humbled at the opportunity Mr. Odom and Mr. Spurlock have given me to lead an amazing group of dedicated teachers, staff and students at Oakland High School,” Marshall said. “I look forward to continue working with all stakeholders to ensure we maintain a high level of academic excellence.”

Current Director of Schools Don Odom is retiring June 30 after serving as an educator with the district for the past 50 years. 

Connifey-Marlin to take over Blackman Middle School

Dr. Amy Connifey-Marlin will be the next principal of Blackman Middle School, Director of Schools Don Odom and Director-elect Bill Spurlock announced today. 

Connifey-Marlin currently serves as an assistant principal at Blackman High School. She previously served as an assistant principal at LaVergne High School, Blackman Middle School, LaVergne Middle School and Blackman Elementary School. She also previously taught physical education at LaVergne Primary School and Blackman Middle School. 

“Dr. Connifey-Marlin has served as an assistant principal of Blackman High School since 2012 after having held other administrative positions at both the elementary and middle school levels,” Odom said. “We expect the academic relationship between Blackman Middle School and Blackman High School to continue and strengthen as Dr. Connifey-Marlin has a deep understanding of the BHS Collegiate Academy and the school’s scholastic and athletic expectations.”

Dr. Connifey-Marlin was previously named the Assistant Principal of the Year by the Tennessee Association of Secondary School Principals. She is a veteran educator of more than 25 years, first joining Rutherford County Schools in 1992. 

“I’m very impressed with the diverse experience Dr. Amy Connifey-Marlin has working with both middle and high schools,” Director-elect Spurlock said. “These skills she has acquired will be very valuable in her role as principal of Blackman Middle School.”

Both Blackman High School and Blackman Middle School are among the largest schools in Rutherford County. Blackman High School has more than 2,000 students while the middle school has more than 1,400. 

“I want to thank Mr. Odom and Mr. Spurlock for this opportunity,” Connifey-Marlin said. “I’ve been in schools with 2,000+ students for the last several years, and so I feel well-equipped to manage Blackman Middle’s large student population. The community knows me because I’ve been there the past eight years, but I want to reintroduce myself to the Blackman Middle community specifically and show that I intend to support students and teachers to be successful. 

“Blackman Middle School is known for a high level of performance, and I want to continue that tradition,” she added.

Will Shelton, the current principal of Blackman Middle School, has announced his retirement effective the end of the school year. 

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