Photos courtesy of Shelby County Board of Education
New Forest Oaks Elementary School administrators: Principal Carlyn Duncan (left) and Assistant Principal Jana Baker.
Shelby County Schools has announced a number of administrative changes that will occur for the upcoming school year. The new appointments at both the school and district levels are:
Holly Laney, student services supervisor: Laney has been named student services supervisor for Shelby County Schools. Laney has over 20 years of experience as an educator and is currently the principal of Helena Elementary. Prior to her role at Helena Elementary, she worked as the director of student services and special education for Tarrant City Schools. Laney received a Bachelor of Science degree in collaborative education from Troy University. She also received a master’s degree and an Ed.S. in educational leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Shellie Little, transportation supervisor: Little has been named transportation supervisor for Shelby County Schools. Little has 28 years of experience in education, including 12 years as a middle and high school English and literature teacher. She has served as the assistant principal at Montevallo Middle for the last 16 years. Little received her bachelor’s, master’s and Educational Specialist degrees in educational administration from the University of Montevallo.
Jana Baker, Forest Oaks Elementary School assistant principal: Baker will serve as the assistant principal at Forest Oaks Elementary School. She has 10 years of experience as an educator, with six of those years being in Shelby County Schools. She began her career as a fourth grade teacher in 2016 in Sylacauga City Schools. She has taught fifth grade at Forest Oaks Elementary School for the past six years.
Jay McGaughy, transportation coordinator: McGaughy will serve as the next transportation coordinator for Shelby County Schools. McGaughy has over 25 years of experience in education. He began his career with Shelby County Schools as an educator teaching world history, coaching various sports and serving as athletic director. He then served as an assistant principal at Oak Mountain Middle School. Since 2023, he has served as transportation supervisor.
Kasey Hollington, Oak Mountain High School principal: Hollington has 23 years of experience in education, 18 of those as a classroom teacher. She most recently served as the assistant principal at Oak Mountain High School. Hollington earned a bachelor’s degree in social science education and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Florida State University and is a National Board Certified Teacher.
Carlyn Duncan, Forest Oaks Elementary School principal: Duncan has over 23 years of experience as an educator in Shelby County Schools. She began her career as a first grade teacher in 2003 before transitioning into instructional coaching and district-level instructional support. Duncan has served for the past seven years as the assistant principal at Forest Oaks Elementary School.
Hoover City Schools has also announced new assistant principals in the U.S. 280 corridor. They are:
Mallory Creel, Greystone Elementary assistant principal: Creel brings 14 years of experience in education and previously served as a math teacher at Berry Middle. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and is known for her commitment to student success and instructional excellence. She has served on the Alabama State College and Career Ready Mathematics Implementation Team, is AMSTI Math and Science trained and Orton-Gillingham certified.
Darrius Taylor, Berry Middle School assistant principal: With 18 years in education, Taylor returns to HCS with a strong background in teaching, coaching and school leadership. He previously spent nine years at Spain Park High School as a social studies teacher and assistant football coach and most recently served as an assistant principal at Leeds High School, where he supported daily school operations, student discipline and restorative practices, teacher growth and academic initiatives.
