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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

Long-time Chilton County Schools STEM Academy teacher Jay LeCroy has accepted a position as engineering director at Thompson High School in Shelby County.

“The opportunity to go to Thompson is just something that you can’t turn down,” LeCroy said. “It is a much bigger school, and as a teacher, you can’t turn down opportunities like this in your career.”

In the new position, LeCroy will be teaching robotics as well as coaching robotics and engineering teams.

“Thompson is one of the biggest schools in the state, and they are extremely excited about having the robotics and drones,” LeCroy said. “… I am looking for the new opportunity to go to a bigger school and … to continue to develop the program there.”

He said he is looking forward to the new challenge.

LeCroy had taught in the STEM Academy since 2012.

He said the STEM Academy at LeCroy Career Technical Center was “a very successful program … way out ahead of a lot of people with the things we did.”

“It is sad to leave,” LeCroy said. “We had a great group of kids coming through the program. We always had a strong group of students coming from six schools. That was the biggest positive about working at the STEM Academy was seeing the best students of all six schools come through the program and being able to help them flourish in STEM and engineering.”

This gave LeCroy the opportunity to see students grow and prepare for future careers. Some are now working in engineering fields.

Teacher Jason Sosa will continue teaching in the STEM Academy.

LeCroy’s first teaching job was at Isabella High School in 2007. Prior to that, he was a senior environmentalist for the state Department Of Public Health and a marine biologist with Auburn University.

LeCroy’s resignation was accepted during the June 29 meeting of the Chilton County Board of Education. Resignations for Brittney Bice and Stephanie Howard at Clanton Elementary, Jacob Roop at Jemison High School as well as David Jackson and Kelsey Canara at Clanton Intermediate were also accepted.