Beginning July 1, Trigg County High School will have a new principal.
Kristee Barnes has accepted the position and was hired.
A native of Trigg County and Class of 1988 graduate of TCHS, she was a student-athlete who has since embarked on a 22-year career in education.
The path began in Caldwell County, where she served the district as an alternative school teacher. Later, after a move to Tennessee, she spent eight years as an English teacher and softball coach for Stewart County High School.
Upon her return to Kentucky, she joined Hopkinsville High School and served 10 years as an English teacher and English department chair, while working as an assistant softball coach for two seasons.
Most recently, she has been dedicated to her role as an intervention and post-secondary readiness coach for HHS.
She holds a bachelor of arts from Murray State University in English education with a focus in Secondary, a master’s of science Walden University in literacy and learning, and a master’s of arts in education from MSU in administrative education.
Furthermore, she has earned a certification for supervisor of instruction.
Friday’s announcement follows Thursday’s special-called convening of the TCHS Site Based Decision Making Council, with Superintendent Bill Thorpe and Director of Pupil Personnel James Mangels in attendance.
Stephanie Gilbert and Teresa Russell, teachers on this panel, said the school and its staff had been looking for very specific qualifications to be met, and Thorpe and Mangels heard and listened to those recommendations.
The position first opened following Tim Bush’s shift to the Department of Transportation, and in the first cycle, a candidate was selected and notified.
However, officials noted that “life happened,” and the selected individual had to pass on the opportunity — following family in a move several states away from Kentucky.
As such, Russell said the best move was reopen the position to capable applicants, leading to this selection.
Barnes is the school’s third-ever woman principal, joining the ranks of Mary Ann Newman Fourqurean and Sharon Knight.
