The Shelby County Board of Education has approved administrators for three local schools, including a new principal for Helena Middle School and new assistant principals for Shelby County High School and Vincent Elementary School.

• 

• 

Dr. Matthew Epps will serve as the new principal for Helena Middle School. Epps has over 15 years of experience in education and currently serves as the assistant principal at Oak Mountain High School. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He also earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, his Educational Specialist degree, and Doctorate of Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. 

Ms. Melissa Ellison will serve as the new assistant principal at Shelby County High School. Ellison has over 18 years of experience in public education and currently serves as the business teacher at Calera High School. Ms. Ellison earned a Bachelor’s degree in math from the University of Montevallo, a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from National University, and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.  

Ms. Wendy Cespedes will serve as the new assistant principal at Vincent Elementary School. Cespedes has 10 years of experience in elementary education and is currently a second-grade teacher at Forest Oaks Elementary School. She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Elementary Education from Grand Canyon University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.

Mr. Jay Peoples will serve as the new Coordinator of Instruction. Presently, Peoples is the High School Coordinator for Shelby County Schools. Prior to that position, he served as the principal of both Helena High School and Chelsea High School.  Peoples has worked in public education for 29 years. During that time he has served as a teacher and/or administrator at every level of education: elementary, middle, high, junior college, and college level. Peoples has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Lee University.  He also acquired a Master of Arts Degree in English and a Master of Arts in Administration and Educational Leadership Certification from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.