The start of a new school year is just weeks away and with it will bring at least two changes at the top in at least two of the schools in the Clinton County School District–one being a familiar face in a different setting, the other the absence of one long-time educator who will be retiring.

With the recent hiring of now former Clinton County High School Principal Sheldon Harlan to take the same role at the Clinton County Early Childhood Center, there is now a vacancy to be filled at that facility.

Former ECC Principal Tina Langford, who is now serving as interim Director of School District Programs, will be officially retiring from the district October 1. She had been principal at ECC for the past four and-a-half years.

Clinton County Schools Superintendent Charlotte Bernard noted that Harlan’s duties as new principal at ECC became effective immediately, and the reason the hiring took place so quickly was to have the new personnel hired in the summer and in place at the start of the new school year in order to make for an easier, smoother transition.

The high school vacancy position was posted in early July, and a new principal to replace Harlan there will be hired within 30 days.

Bernard noted that principals are hired by each school’s Site Based Decision Making Council, which is made up of three parents, two teachers and herself.

While the positions are posted, the Site Based members are trained in the hiring process, including how to take applications, gather information needed to make a determination on the best applicant, how to conduct interviews, etc.

Once the time period for applying is up, the council will conduct interviews of all or some of the applicants they narrow down as finalists before actually making a hiring recommendation.

In the case with the Early Childhood Center vacancy, only three applications were received, the superintendent noted. The position was posted on June 6 and Harlan was hired on July 7.

The ECC SBDM committee members include Tamara Riddle, Lezlee Young, Cindy Wallace, Jade Massengale and Jamie Cooksey.

Now it will be the CCHS Site Based Council’s duty to go through the process of selecting a new principal at the high school to replace Harlan.

In fact, a special call meeting was held this past Monday morning, July 13 to discuss the principal selection process, training schedule and possible interim appointment.

Langford, who announced she would be retiring a couple of months ago, has 27 years total in education, two years in Covington, Kentucky and the remaining 25 years in the local school district.

She spent most of her time in the classroom, some 17 years, teaching third and fourth grade at Albany Elementary, a stint in the fifth grade at Clinton County Middle School and also served as Math Recovery Specialist at CCMS for two years, as well as serving in other capacities and on various committees.

Langford had been at the helm of the Early Childhood Center for the past four and-a-half years and will officially retire after serving a few months as interim Director of School District Programs this fall.

Langford, in looking back on her years as an educator, said she had always been involved and wanted to make a difference in the lives of her students. She said what she would miss the most were the kids, her colleagues and parents. “I always tried to talk to them and help them.

“I wanted to serve the community, and I want to see kids want to come to school,” she said.

Langford added that a major part of her philosophy was team work with students, parents and school staff. “We worked as a team and became a family. And parents were always welcomed.” But she said “it’s always about the kids, and they need an environment where learning can take place.”

The retiring principal also gave credit to her former mentors and bosses (principals) at schools where she taught, saying she worked under good leadership, including Tim Armstrong (current AES Principal), former principal Jackie York and former middle school principal Jerry Branham. “They were roll models and very helpful,” she added.

Superintendent Bernard said of Langford that she would be missed by students, staff and parents alike. “I had every confidence in the school knowing it was being run right in every aspect,” she said, adding that at a recent retirement reception held for Langford, it was obvious she was respected and would be missed by teachers and parents alike.

Langford said upon retirement she planned on spending some extra time with her family, but would eventually get back into the workforce in some capacity, and one project she and her husband, Mike, already are undertaking is operating poultry houses.

The Langfords’ have three children, Colby, 20, a student at the University of Kentucky; CoriAnn, an upcoming senior and Colin, an upcoming junior, both at Clinton County High School.