By Toni Garrard Clay/Communications Coordinator
Athens ISD Superintendent of Schools Blake Stiles announced today that Shannon Pursley will be the new principal at Central Athens Elementary, effective July 1.
Pursley spent the last two years as assistant principal at South Athens Elementary. From 2012-2014, she was an instructional coach at Athens Middle School, and prior to that she spent nine years in the classroom, teaching language arts at the middle school and reading at what was then Athens Intermediate School.
“I became an educator to improve the lives of children and be a part of the education process,” said Pursley, who before becoming a teacher had a career in marketing and sales. “I look forward to joining the Central Athens community and collaborating with such an outstanding group of educators, children and their families.”
Superintendent Stiles said he has every confidence Pursley will carry on in the tradition of excellence already established at Central.
“We believe she’ll be an excellent campus principal,” he said.
Pursley is replacing Jennifer Risinger, who is moving from her leadership position at Central to take over the helm at Athens Middle School. AMS Principal Ginger Morrison is taking over as principal at Athens High School, and AHS Principal Jami Ivey is moving into the administrative position of director of secondary curriculum.
Pursley graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler with a bachelor of science degree. In 2015, she earned a master’s of education, again at UT Tyler, majoring in educational leadership with a principal certification.
She and her husband, Robert Pursley, have two children, Jace and Haley, who are both graduates of Athens High School.