STARKVILLE — Joseph Stone moved from Quad County Alternative School director to principal of Armstrong Middle School when the Starkville school board unanimously voted him in Tuesday night.
Stone, 36, has been with the district since 2007 when he was an assistant principal at Starkville High School. He became director of the alternative school in 2008, a position he has held for one year. Before that, he held positions as teacher, coach and fine arts teacher in Tupelo, Halifax County, Tate County, Canton and Holly Springs.
He replaces longtime principal Bob Fuller, who resigned effective June 30 from the school district.
“I like children. I believe I have a gift, and I believe my experience can help make a difference in their lives,” said Stone, who takes his new role effective July 1.
He sees the great teachers at Armstrong as the biggest strength of the school.
“We want to take the great teachers we have … and develop great scholars in Starkville,” Stone said.
The challenge is to move from good to great as a school, he said.
“I believe Armstrong is a good school. The challenge after you have been good for a while is to find the areas that can be changed to move us into being a great school,” Stone said.
Stone is a 1997 graduate of Rust College and a 2007 graduate of the American Intercontinental University. He and his wife, Laleta, have a daughter, Precious, who is 3.
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