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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

Dr. Shannon Walker has been selected to step into the lead administrative role for career tech for Chilton County Schools following the retirement of Dara Norman.

As vocational education supervisor, Walker will be the director for LeCroy Career Technical Center and oversee career tech education for the entire school system.

“I am looking forward to continuing the growth we have seen recently in career tech in Chilton County, growing (and) expanding our programs and reaching more students,” Walker said.

Specific plans will be developed next semester as Walker meets with CCS Superintendent Jason Griffin.

Walker said she wants to work with the career coach to establish more relationships with local industries and career tech classes as well as increasing students’ work in the community. She plans to meet with local organizations to see how career tech might help them.

Walker has been the assistant director for LCTC for the past four years.

“I really wanted to help students on a different level,” Walker said of working in administration.

During her time at LCTC, Walker has enjoyed “seeing the success of the students, the way they are engaged and seeing what they do when they graduate and how they put what they have learned into practice … it is encouraging to see that,” she said.

Following up with students after graduation is a requirement for the career tech programs, and many students stay in touch with their instructors.

Walker became interested in career tech because of her family.

“I grew up in a family of career tech,” Walker said. “My dad worked in Montgomery. He was a meat inspector for the USDA … My grandfathers were welders, mechanics and brick masons.”

Before becoming the assistant director of LCTC, Walker taught middle and intermediate school classes.

Walker has a Ph.D in education and is in her 21st year in Chilton County schools and her 28th year in education.

Walker said she chose a career in education because “I enjoyed school. I enjoyed teaching others.”