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AISD fills postsATHENS, Feb 26, 2013 (Athens Daily Review - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Athens ISD Superintendent Dr. Blake Skiles announced the promotion of two administrators on Friday. Dr. Janie Sims has been promoted to assistant superintendent. At Athens Middle School, Winston McCowan ascended to the position of principal. Sims had been serving the district as curriculum director since 2011 and has been an employee of the district since 2000. Prior to serving as curriculum director, she was principal of Athens Intermediate and South Athens Elementary. She replaces Skiles, who served as assistant superintendent before taking over for Robert Steeber upon his departure from AISD last October. She received her Doctor of Education from Stephen F. Austin State University and her Master of Education and Superintendent Certificate fro the University of Texas at Tyler. She also has a Bachelor of Behavioral Science from Hardin-Simmons University. Sims has immersed herself into the Athens community. She is currently serving on the board of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and is actively involved with the Athens Public Education Foundation. She is also a member of the State Teacher Incentive Fund Project Stakeholder Board. "I am very excited. My husband and I just love Athens and I love the school district. I am looking forward to moving it forward," Sims said. Her husband, Tom, is the music director at First United Methodist Church in Athens. Skiles has not announced who will replace Sims as curriculum director. McCowan has served at Athens ISD since 2011 as assistant principal of Athens High School. He was named interim principal after the previous principal, Vicki Weatherford, was reassigned to another position within the district in January. McCowan has bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas A&M--Commerce. He has 10 years in the education field and comes from a long line of educators. His father is a college professor, his mother an elementary principal and both his sisters are teachers. "I am looking forward to the challenge. I'm excited and this is a blessing. I'm ready to do great things in Athens," said McCowan. McCowan is married to wife, Lindsay, and the couple has two children -- Noah, 6, and Brittany, 4. "I am confident that both of these individuals will positively impact the district and the community," Skiles said. "I would like to offer my thanks, again, to all who served on the selection committees. The considerate responses of all of the members of the interview process were tremendously helpful to me in making these significant decisions." ___ (c)2013 the Athens Daily Review (Athens, Texas) Visit the Athens Daily Review (Athens, Texas) at www.athensreview.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |