Hoover City Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Kari Tibbs as the new Assistant Principal at Deer Valley Elementary School. Tibbs brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and leadership to the role, having served Hoover City Schools in various capacities for more than 24 years.
Tibbs spent 11 years as Assistant Principal at Berry Middle School before retiring last school year. Since her retirement, Tibbs has remained actively involved in the district as a long-term administrative substitute, supporting principals and school teams at three elementary schools, including Deer Valley.
“As I reflect on the time Kari spent with us as a substitute assistant principal earlier this year, she demonstrated a commitment to helping Deer Valley continue to be a place where students want to learn, teachers want to teach, and parents want to send their children,” said Deer Valley Principal Nicole Stokes. “We look forward to the valuable contributions she will bring to our school community as the next assistant principal.”
Photo courtesy of Hoover City Schools
Earlier this school year, Tibbs supported Green Valley Elementary as a substitute assistant principal before transitioning to Deer Valley. She will serve in a similar role at Bluff Park Elementary for the remainder of the school year and officially begin her new position at Deer Valley on June 2.
While working with the elementary faculty and staff, Tibbs said she felt a calling to return to school leadership at the elementary level.
“I have enjoyed stepping into the elementary schools and seeing the heart and energy that fuels each day,” she said. “The relationships, the enthusiasm, and the opportunity to help build a foundation for learning have really drawn me in. I knew this was where I wanted to be.”
Tibbs began her career at Berry Middle as a special education teacher. Her passion for student growth and collaborative learning environments led her to be named Berry Middle School’s Teacher of the Year in 2010.
She received her bachelor’s degree in special education and her master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“I am thrilled to welcome Kari Tibbs to the Deer Valley family,” Stokes said. “Her expertise, enthusiasm, and commitment to fostering positive relationships with students, staff, and families will make her a tremendous asset to Deer Valley.”