Rick Carter has been made principal of Athens High School after serving about eight weeks as interim principal.

He has also been assigned additional duties as executive director of innovative programs.

Athens school board members approved the changes during a called board meeting Tuesday in which they also approved a list of personnel changes.

“I think it is great; it’s awesome,” Carter told The News Courier Thursday. “The opportunity to serve the staff and students as principal of Athens High School is humbling, and at the same time, I do realize the responsibility and expectations, and I just can’t tell you how tickled I am.”

Athens High School had 1,043 students this year, he said.

In March, Superintendent Trey Holladay appointed Carter as interim principal at the school after former principal Travis Schrimsher resigned March 15 to become principal of Monrovia Middle School on May 1. Holladay made the decision to keep Carter to the position on a permanent basis, then made the recommendation to the board.

Before becoming interim principal at Athens High, Carter was principal at Athens Middle School. He also served as executive director of innovative programs with Athens City Schools for four years. Before that, he was an assistant principal in northeast Alabama.

He has also served as athletics director, elementary teacher, secondary teacher and coach during his career. He was named Alabama’s principal of the year in 2013.

Carter said he was elated about the opportunity to be Athens High’s principal.

“The trust placed in us — from me to the staff — is a responsibility, but again, a great opportunity and humbling. It’s exciting and at the same time an adventure.”

As principal, he said he expects to learn something new every day. He said the day that changes will be time for him to get out.

In other business Tuesday, school board members approved the following personnel matters:

Employment

Graham Aderholt, Athens Middle School principal; Megan Butler, AMS special education teacher; Maggie Chittam, Athens Renaissance School elementary teacher; Shannon Coppell, AHS systemwide instructional aide; Valencia Coppell, AHS math teacher; Melanie Delap, executive assistant to the assistant superintendent; Cassidy Goff, HEART Academy at Julian Newman Elementary School teacher; Ginger Hickman, communications specialist; Jenny Jarrett, AHS math teacher; Jason Quick, AHS teacher and assistant principal for elementary schools/systemwide; Estephany Ruano, FAME Academy at Brookhill Elementary School; Daphne Scott, Athens Intermediate School fourth-grade teacher; Catherine Anderson, systemwide instructional aide assigned to school office; Richard Carruth, AHS custodian; Leigh Jackson, systemwide instructional aide assigned to school office; Tammi Malone, part-time systemwide instructional aide; Harold Rogers, bus driver; and Felicia Young, Child Nutrition Program at AMS.

Transfers

Tammie Brand, from secretary to the superintendent to executive assistant to the superintendent; Cheryl Carter, from ARS instructional aide to ARS local bookkeeper; Henry Hampton, from mechanic to supervisor of transportation/mechanic; Shane Leopard, from FAME Academy first-grade teacher to AIS fifth-grade teacher; Beth Patton, from AHS director of school operations/assistant principal to assistant superintendent of administrative and instructional services; Jim Pressnell, from transportation administrator at the bus garage to AHS dean of students; Drew Phillips, from AIS physical education teacher to AMS physical education teacher; and Shana Winter, from student support counselor to general school counselor at AMS.

Retirements

Darin Aderholt, athletic director; Becky Allen, AMS special education teacher; and Jean Ridinger, AMS CNP employee.

Resignations

Corey Ellis, AMS systemwide instructional aide; Tyler Nay, HEART Academy third-grade teacher; Mary Beth Pate, FAME Academy latchkey teacher; Leslie Schnars, AMS special education, math and CARE program teacher; and Valerie Vaughan, AMS art teacher.

Non-renewals

Stacie Wooten Binford, AHS science teacher; Chris Coffey, AMS strength and conditioning; Ginger Hickman, communications assistant and strategic planning; Erin McLemore, AHS math teacher; Marie Sanders-Ingram, AHS Spanish teacher; and Shane Smothers, AHS physical education teacher.

Tenure

Leslie Batts, AMS; Anne Baugh, AMS; Dana Betts, AMS; Kristin Black, AHS; Catherine Boulineau, ARS; Sloan Davis, AHS; Megan Dilliard, AHS; Paige Evans, AMS; Lisa Gill, iAcademy; Vera Gladney, iAcademy; Cody Gross, AHS; Lorri Haynes, ARS; Brook Humphries, HEART Academy; Wes Kennedy; Nick Looney, AMS; Amy Lungrin, HEART Academy; Heather Patterson, AIS; Dana Reynolds, AHS; Katie Roberts, HEART Academy; Stacey Roney, SPARK Academy; Laura Smith, HEART Academy; Laura Lou Smith, AHS; Anna Tominack, AHS; Laurie Viers, AMS; and Cassie White, HEART Academy.

Changes/Clarification

Serena Owsley, assistant superintendent of administrative and financial services.