By Hannah Curran, Editor
CLAY — Clay-Chalkville High School (CCHS) principal Michael Lee has accepted a principal position at Orange Beach High School.
Lee has served 22 years in the Jefferson County School System; it’s where his kids went to school, and Lee said making this decision was bittersweet.
“It is just a tremendous opportunity for my family and me, something that I just couldn’t turn down,” Lee said. “I’ve told a lot of people who’ve asked me I love Clay-Chalkville, I’ve raised my family here, I’ve been the principal here for 10 years.”
He started as a teacher, coach, and athletic director at Bottenfield Middle School before taking the assistant principal position at Minor High School. Then, in 2012, Lee got to serve as principal at Clay-Chalkville High School, a place he has called home for the past 10 years.
“I love Clay-Chalkville; I love the city of Clay and all they did for the schools,” Lee said. “I’ve been treated amazing here, and it’s an amazing group of people. It’s like a family.”
Lee explained that the decision to leave was a decision that was best for his family.
“It’s just a move; that was a good move for my family and me,” Lee said. “We have a great staff here at Clay-Chalkville, and I’ve had the opportunity in 10 years to hire most of them. It’s just been a great 10 years of my life.”
His memories and all that Clay-Chalkville has accomplished in the last 10 years will continue to be something he will cherish throughout his life.
“It’s a bittersweet thing for me because I’m walking away from a great place and great people,” Lee said. “[Orange Beach High School] is going to be a new opportunity and a new challenge for us, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Lee said that after many discussions with his family, he believes Orange Beach High School is a great opportunity he couldn’t miss.
“I think it’s a great community,” Lee said. “It’s a great place to take my family and an outstanding school with people that want to do things and be great, and that’s what I want to be a part of.”
Lee would like to thank Jefferson County School System and everybody in Jefferson County Schools for giving him the chance to work for and work with all of them.
“My appreciation and thanks, I can’t say it enough,” Lee said. “I love Jefferson County and have been a part of it for 22 years. So leaving Jefferson County is a hard thing for me.”
He also thanked the city of Clay because he believes that CCHS would not be where it is today without them.
“They do so much for our schools,” Lee said. “Mayor Webster and city council and Ronnie Dixon as the city manager; they’ve been great not only to me, but they’re great to all schools in this feeder pattern, and the appreciation I have for them goes unsaid.
To the people at CCHS, Lee thanks you for everything that you gave him in the last 10 years.
“We truly have a family environment here at Clay-Chalkville High School, and we treat each other like family,” Lee said. “I’m leaving some great friendships and lifetime friends that I’ll have forever and people that I have a genuine love for and that I’m going to miss greatly. I’ve been beyond blessed to be here, and I’m thankful I had the opportunity.”
Lee will take over the position as principal at Orange Beach High School on July 1, 2o22.
He explained that interviews for the new CCHS principal would be happening soon.