Fuqua resigns principal post

Will now head Coastal's Brewton campus

Escambia County (Ala.) School Superintendent John Knott said the search for a new principal for Escambia County High School in Atmore will begin immediately to fill the vacancy created by Thursday's resignation of ECHS Principal Dennis Fuqua.

Fuqua, 41, who has served as the school's principal for the past seven years, resigned to take the position of director of Coastal Alabama Community College's Brewton campus. He will assume his duties at Coastal on Jan. 13.

"I will have the job posted by the first of the week and start the search," Knott said of the vacancy.

Knott said the job would be posted across the state and possibly regionally.

"We're looking to put the right person in that position," Knott said. "We will be looking for a change leader with a priority on getting academic scores up and continuing with our workforce development."

Knott praised the job Fuqua did during his tenure at the high school.

"He brought stability to the school and worked to unite the community," Knott said. "He was a community educator and changed the culture by establishing sustainability at the school."

Knott said that while they haven't been able to reach goals academically ECHS has increased the career tech programs.

"He brought in more focus to getting students the credentials needed to be ready for a technical career," Knott added. "I wish him nothing but the best at Coastal."

A native of East Brewton, Fuqua is a graduate of W.S. Neal High School. He attended Jefferson Davis Community College for one year before transferring to Auburn University where he received his bachelor's degree in agriculture business and economics in 2000.

He worked for Southern Growers, which is an ornamental and tree nursery in Wetumpka, for one year.

Fuqua went back to Auburn and received his master's degree in agriculture science education.

He taught Ag Science at the Beulah Academy of Science for two years before coming to Flomaton High School in 2004 to teach agriculture science. Four years later he was named assistant principal at FHS.

Fuqua became principal at ECHS in January, 2013, and will be one week shy of seven years at the school when he steps down.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at ECHS," Fuqua said. "I feel like we made great strides in a positive manner. I've made life-long connections and friendships."

Fuqua said his decision to resign from ECHS was based on what he felt was best for him and his family.

"Opportunities like this don't come along very often," he said. "I felt it was in the best interest for me and my family to pursue this."

 
 
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