Tupelo High School has some new faces in administration this year. Other principals have taken on new roles.

Adam Lindsey undertook Tim Carter’s position as the new 11th-grade principal, and Melissa Thomas took on Tyrone Catledge’s role as the new 9th-grade principal.

“I think they’re great,” Catledge said. “I think they’re go-getters, and I think we have a really good team here.”

“They have been a blessing to us already,” Carter added. “Hardworking. Great work ethic. Want to be a part of the team. Want to be a part of Tupelo. Special.”

From Mantachie Elementary to Baldwyn High School to Mooreville Middle School to his current position at THS, Lindsey has had 12 years of experience, five years as a teacher and seven years as an administrator.

What he loves most about being an administrator is “it’s something different every day.”

“You’re doing a lot of different things throughout the day, and you never know from one day to the next what kind of new challenges you are going to face,” Lindsey said.

Thomas has also served 12 years, starting out in Tate County for two years and spending the past 10 years at Nettleton in multiple positions. She has served as a teacher, coach, curriculum director, junior high principal and high school principal.

“My goal is to make sure that we are providing the best education for all students at THS to make sure we have a safe environment,” Thomas said.

Carter is now the 12th-grade principal, and Catledge is the new 10th-grade principal. Some of the changes are due to the loss of former 10th-grade principal Genevieve McAlpin, who left to take the role of Director of Special Education for the Tupelo Public School District, and Art Dobbs who became principal of Pierce Street Elementary.

“It’s not a better job. It’s not a better occupation either way,” Carter said. “It’s just another chance to work with young people and to help in another way for Tupelo. I just want to make sure that I’m doing whatever it takes to make Tupelo High School the best high school in the state.”

“The best thing about me transitioning into the 10th-grade principal is that I already know the students, so I already have a relationship with these students,” Catledge said. “They know what I expect, and they know me. It makes it easier when they have an issue or problems that they want to talk to me about.”