Handley To Head Memorial Elementary School

SEBRING - Ruby Handley has held numerous faculty meetings during the past seven and a half years she has served as principal of Fred Wild Elementary School, but Tuesday's after-school meeting was particularly emotional.

"I told them starting next year they would have a new principal and that I was going to open the new school," Handley said. "I have a wonderful staff and a fabulous group of students and I love them very much."

Handley said Superintendent Wally Cox informed her Tuesday afternoon that she would be principal of Memorial Elementary School, which is currently under construction and scheduled to open in August.
"There is a lot of emotion with this," she said. "On one level you think this is exciting and on a different level you have mixed feelings because I will be leaving a family here."

Prior to becoming principal of Fred Wild Elementary, Handley was assistant principal at Woodlawn Elementary School and before that assistant principal at Sun 'N Lake Elementary School.

"I will be thinking about both schools from now until probably for a year afterwards because I've been here, I love this school and I'll be concerned about both schools and working on both schools," Handley said. "Through June I'll be working to make sure there is a smooth transition and that my students and staff are well cared for."

"I'll do whatever is best for everybody - for the big picture," she said.