By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Tammy Hand has stepped into the principal role at Verbena High School, but it was not until her new principal open house that she realized it was 30 years after her father-in-law Don Hand had been principal.

Don Hand was principal from 1988 to 1990. Prior to that, he had been the football coach at Chilton County High School for 18 years.

“I felt like I needed a change,” Don Hand said.

It was a similar feeling that had led Tammy Hand into school administration.

“I wanted something different, but I wanted something still in education,” Tammy Hand said.

She thought administration “would be something that I would enjoy.”

Tammy Hand is starting her 27th year in education. She started her career as a special education teacher, inspired by her sister’s work at a mental health facility. Later, she went back to school for a degree to teach math. She worked at Chilton County High School, which she had attended as a student, as a math teacher.

Tammy Hand completed her instructional leadership degree in 2014 and started working at VHS as the assistant principal in 2016.

Don Hand had grown up in Marbury, so he knew a lot about Verbena before becoming principal.

“Verbena was a good place for me,” he said. “It was a great learning experience, and I think it will be a great learning experience for Tammy.”

He said Tammy was “a real hard worker” and a good fit for the school.

Don Hand had been Tammy Hand’s driver’s education teacher.

During his time as principal, Don Hand enjoyed getting to know people in the school and community.

“We had a real great faculty down there,” Don Hand said. “The teachers — they love the school, they love the students. The people in that community love that school, too.”

Tammy Hand said preparation for this first school year as principal was a “whirlwind,” but the actual start of school has gone smoothly thus far. She said both faculty and students have created a positive atmosphere.

Painting the exterior and the interior of the building was a part of this.

“I think the kids have kind of felt like we have a vested interest in them,” Tammy Hand said, commenting that if the faculty cares about the building, the students will to.

“Its’s an old school, but it’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint will do,” Hand said.

Even as Hand is adjusting to her new role, she is helping the new assistant principal get adjusted to their new job.

Tammy Hand said having an assistant principal at the annex has really helped the school.

“That’s one of the best things the board ever approved,” Hand said.

This is also thefirst year for preschool to be offered at Verbena.

Tammy Hand said her supportive staff made the start to the school year as good as it was.

Staff and faculty put in time painting to make sure it got finished on time.

“That right there told me I had made the right decision,” Tammy Hand said.