Tina Eaton takes over today as principal of Chandler Elementary School, replacing Sonya McCoy, who served in that position for five years. CHANDLER — A former Athens Independent School District administrator takes over as principal of Chandler Elementary School today, replacing Sonya McCoy who served in that position for five years.

“I’m excited to be at Chandler Elementary, and I want to continue providing a nurturing atmosphere for our students,” Tina Eaton said. “I look forward to meeting with parents and creating opportunities for parent involvement.”

Brownsboro Independent School District Superintendent Elton Caldwell said Eaton was chosen from four or five finalists.

“They were all good candidates,” he said. “But we felt like Mrs. Eaton’s expertise and personality were best suited for the opening. Her campus in Athens had been very successful.”

Eaton was principal for more than two years at South Athens Elementary School and assistant principal at the same campus for five years.

“We had a really successful campus,” Eaton said. “And I know Chandler Elementary is successful. It would be pointless to come in here and make big changes.”

McCoy said she is grateful for the 12 years she spent at the campus.

“Chandler Elementary will forever hold a special place in my heart. I have met so many wonderful people, made life-long memories, and touched the lives of many children. The school is representative of a community of dedicated teachers, involved parents, and precious students. I challenge Chandler Elementary to continue to strive for excellence in all they do.”

Chandler Elementary is expected to be rated “exemplary” after the Texas Education Agency releases its Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test scores on July 30, the third straight year that has been accomplished.

“I think that’s awesome,” Eaton said. “It takes a lot of work. It sounds like a team that works together and has high expectations. I’m excited to be a part of that.”

McCoy has been named direc- tor of the district’s special education program after it withdrew itself from a cooperative in which it spent about $1.4 million annually. Caldwell said the district expects to save hundreds of thousands of dollars by keeping its special education program in house.

“Hopefully, we will wind up $300,000 to $400,000 in the good. We really think it’s going to be very benefi- cial to us.”

Several co-op employees have been retained by the district for its special education program. As director, McCoy will be paid $70,000 annually.

“Deciding to move to the director of special education position was fostered by my absolute love for kids,” McCoy said. “Having studied and mastered in special education while in college, it triggered for me the love of advocating and assessing the needs of diffi cult situations or struggles of children.

“My position will also be to communicate and help establish a working relationship with our parents, teachers, outside agencies, and students as we create an appropriate educational plan for each child.”

By appointing a director and withdrawing from the co-op, Assistant Superintendent Vicki York said, decisions can be made internally instead of by a seven-member board of directors.

“Our district represented 40-something percent of the kids, and we got one vote of seven.”

Caldwell said McCoy, with a special-education background, expressed interest in the position.

“She came to us from the co-op originally. Her area of expertise at that time was special education. She had done a good job for us as principal, and she told us she would like to be considered for the position.”

Before becoming principal in 2005, McCoy was a counselor at Chandler Elementary from 2002 to 2005 and, from 1998 to 2002, was an educational diagnostician.

The administrative change at Chandler Elementary is among more than 20 personnel changes — primarily at Brownsboro High School — this year, Caldwell said.

Eaton is the wife of the district’s parent involvement coordinator, Perry Eaton. He has been with the district since October 2006. A musician and evangelist, he is pastor of Lake Community Baptist Church in Flint.

He spent more than 13 years with Dogwood Baptist Church in Athens as music and youth minister before he resigned in 2006, and is the developer of PowerPlus Youth Camps.