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Lauren Dabbs, formerly the assistant principal, has been hired as the new principal for Fairfax Elementary School in Chambers County School District.

During a special called meeting, the school board approved the new hire to help expedite the transition. 

The school board approved Dabbs’s appointment as principal during a special called meeting on Dec. 4. Dabbs will be succeeding the former Fairfax principal Rusty Newton. Newton, whose final day was Dec. 4, is retiring after serving the Chambers County School District for over 23 years. 

Newton played a key role in the merging of LaFayette-Lanier Elementary School. CCSD Superintendent Dr. Casey Chambley said the school district only had about a month’s notice before the start of school. 

“Mr. Newton kind of took that on, and he did a good job. And we’re proud of him and his new endeavors,” Chambley said.

Dabbs made her official transition as principal on Tuesday, Dec. 5. Before taking this role, she served as the assistant principal at Fairfax Elementary. 

Dabbs began working for the district as a teacher in 2011. She also worked as an elementary school teacher at Phenix City Intermediate School before coming to Chambers County.

Chambley said during the meeting that of two the top finalists, one of which was Dabbs, were employees of Chambers County School District.

“It really makes us proud when the two finalists were from our district, and we really felt like those were the two best candidates,” Chambley said.