Middle Ridge Elementary School Principal Alan Satterfield will move into the position of Director of Special Education the in central office, following the retirement of current director Sarah West.

The Newton County Board of Education voted unanimously at their last meeting to approve Satterfield for the position. He will remain at MRES until Jan. 2. Superintendent Gary Mathews said in an email that he hoped the position of principal at MRES would be filled prior to the upcoming school holidays. The position will remain open until Dec. 11.
"While we may have outstanding external candidates, it is my belief that we have some outstanding internal candidates as well," said Mathews in an email.

Satterfield began his career as principal at MRES in July 2009. He also served as the elementary and secondary special education coordinator at NCSS from July 2007 to July 2010, assistant principal of Indian Creek Middle and Oak Hill Elementary. Prior to that, he worked as a teacher at Oak Hill from 2002 to 2004 and as a teacher and coach in Greene County from 1994-2002.

Satterfield holds a bachelor of science degree in special education and an educational leadership degree from Georgia College & State University.

"Mr. Satterfield has extensive special education experience and is a well-known top performer in our public schools," Mathews said.