PPMS Families,
I am writing to share exciting news about our school administrative team.
First, as many of you know, Mrs. Fordham was recently named the principal of Bumpus Middle School. While we are sad to see her go, we are excited for her to take the next step in her career!
Ms. Melton is also taking on a different role, but she will remain on campus here at PPMS. As our in-house instructional coach, she will be able to work side by side with our entire faculty to help us level up our teaching and learning for all students.
I am excited for both ladies to move into roles that fit their passions and fill their cups! At the same time, they leave tremendous holes in our administrative team. We have had a great year this year, and it is due in large part to them. Without their tireless efforts, we would not have been nearly as successful as we have been. Fortunately, we have found two incredible individuals who are up to the task!
At the meeting last night, the Board approved two new assistant principals for PPMS – Regina Dickens and Josef Lauderdale. These are two competent, caring, and committed individuals who will step in and make an immediate, positive impact on our school.
I am including some information about them below. Please join me in welcoming them to the PPMS family!
Go Panthers!
Ryan Kendall
Ms. Regina Dickens brings 17 years of diverse experience in education, spanning from her time as a 2nd-6th grade teacher to her role as an ARI Reading Coach, as well as over 13 years of coaching school cheer and dance teams. She is a proud graduate of Alabama State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education, the University of West Alabama with a Master’s in Elementary Education, and the University of Montevallo with a Master’s in Instructional Leadership.
Throughout her career, Ms. Dickens has received numerous awards and recognitions, with her most cherished honor being named “Teacher of the Year” during her tenure at Pelham City Schools. Leadership has always been a driving force for Ms. Dickens, and she is deeply passionate about making a positive impact in education. Her commitment to inspiring others, fostering a culture of lifelong learning, and advocating for the success of young people defines her approach to leadership.
Ms. Dickens is excited to embark on her journey as an Assistant Principal at Pelham City Schools, a place where she feels incredibly grateful to continue her journey in administration. She often says, "It's a great day to be a Panther!" as a reminder of the positive energy she strives to bring to the school community.
Josef Lauderdale joins the Pelham Park Middle School family bringing 11 years of experience in education. He is no stranger to Pelham City Schools as he has been a teacher and coach at Pelham High School since 2020. Prior to his tenure in our system, he spent time at Prattville High School as well as Ashford Middle and High Schools.
His leadership roles at Pelham High School include working as a member of the Response to Intervention (RTI) Team and School Safety Team. He also served as Special Teams Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator for our Varsity football team.
Outside of his roles in Pelham, he is a member of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS), and an active participant in the Aspiring School Leaders Academy, where he focuses on creating school communities of character, building positive relationships, and enhancing student engagement.
He received his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Social Science Education, as well as a master’s degree in Sports Management from Troy University. He also holds a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership from the University of West Alabama.