MBJH welcomes new faculty

Last month, Village Living spotlighted the new MBJH principal, Amanda Hood. This month, we would like to welcome the following new faculty members to the Mountain Brook Junior High community.

Donald Clayton joins the MBJH administrative team and will be serving as the curriculum assistant principal.  Prior to MBJH, he worked for ten years at Oak Mountain High School as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and assistant principal. He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Montevallo.  In his spare time he enjoys playing tennis, reading, and spending time with his wife, Kelly, their son, and two miniature schnauzers.

Derek Dearman is also a new MBJH assistant principal who for the past three years served as principal of Montevallo High School. Prior to that position, he served in a variety of roles for Oak Mountain High School including ninth grade assistant Principal, Social Sciences teacher, and head coach for the Varsity Boys’ Soccer team.  He holds a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Montevallo and a master’s in secondary education from UAB. Dearman currently serves in the Alabama Army National Guard as a Lieutenant attached to the 440th Chemical Company. Prior to serving in the National Guard, he was a Navy Seabee in the Navy Reserves and a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He enjoys spending time with his family and attending and participating in sporting events.

New seventh grade counselor Lori Akin taught for fourteen years in both private and public schools, and most recently was the ninth and tenth grade counselor at Vestavia Hills High School.

Brenda Bush is excited to a part of the MBJH World Language team as the new French teacher. 

New social studies teachers Derek Jones comes from Oak Mountain High School, and John Pledger will also teach the subject along with coaching the freshman football team. A resident of Mountain Brook, Pledger is married and has four children.

Brittany Henegar, Robin Chapman, Amy Kathryn Gannon and Renee Kothe will be teaching in the math department. Andrew Cotten and Jennifer Nelson will join the English department.Lesli Hudson is joining the special education department.