Chambers County hires two principals

Published 3:08 pm Thursday, May 23, 2019

LaFAYETTE — The Chambers County School District has two new leaders in place at Fairfax Elementary and Huguley Elementary Schools.

The Chambers County Board of Education accepted the recommendation from Superintendent Dr. Kelli Hodge Wednesday to appoint Misty Hudmon as the new principal of Huguley Elementary and Karen Elizabeth Chandler as the new principal of Fairfax Elementary.

Hudmon has been with the Chambers County School District since July 1999, according to her resume. She started as a third grade teacher at Fairfax Elementary and later became a reading specialist with the school until her appointment as principal. She was also an instructional special at Valley High School from August 2014 to May 2016.

Email newsletter signup

Hudmon received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Auburn University at Montgomery in August 1998 and went back to school to obtain a master’s degree in elementary education from Troy University in Phenix City in December 2015. A year later in December 2016, she finished a second master’s degree at Troy University in Phenix City in instructional leadership and administration.

Hodge said Hudmon has been training to become a principal in the district for the past three years.

“In that time, she has successfully carried out many system-wide leadership roles,” she said. “We are excited to have her now in a principal’s position.”

Hudmon takes over the job from Benji Mitchum, who was recently appointed the new director of transportation.

Chandler has been in elementary education since 1992, starting as a special education teacher at Mt. Zion Elementary and Mt. Zion High Schools in Carrollton, Georgia.

She most recently served as the principal at Glanton-Hindsman Elementary in Villa Rica, Georgia. Additionally, she served as an assistant principal at three different elementary schools in Georgia from 2003 to 2012.

Chandler obtained a bachelor of science in childhood education at the University of West Georgia in 1992 and a master of education in learning disabilities in 1996.

Hodge said Chambers County is fortunate to have a candidate the caliber of Chandler in the school district.

“Her 16 years of experience as a successful administrator in Georgia is a qualification not often found,” she said.

Chandler takes over the job from Fran Groover who moves into the role of director of special education for the district.