By Christian Coffman

VIDALIA — Vidalia Junior High School’s Christine Washington has been called to the principal’s office, and she couldn’t be more pleased.

Washington who has been working as the VJHS assistant principal, will replace Whest Shirley as the school’s principal.

Shirley was recently selected as the Concordia Parish School District superintendent.

Former Delta Charter School Principal Buddy Givens will take Washington’s spot as the school’s assistant principal.

The new appointments were announced last week during the Concordia Parish School Board’s regular meeting.

“Washington was my assistant principal for 10 years,” Shirley said. “I hired Givens as a history teacher weeks ago, and now he’s moved up. I moved up, she has moved up, and it just opened up the door from there.”

Washington will officially start as principal today.

“Hopefully we will continue what we’ve been doing, getting our test scores up,” Washington said. “We have a wonderful community, so we’re going to work on what we have so far.”

Washington taught English and language arts for 10 years — seven years at Ferriday Junior High and three years at Vidalia Junior High.

Washington said she has worked in the school district for a total of 20 years.

Although she hasn’t had a chance to look at the current test scores in detail, Washington said she is ready to put her best foot forward.

“I know the community, I know the parents and students, I know the faculty and staff,” Washington said. “We’re on board with what we need to do, and we’re going to get those test scores up.”

Givens said he was recently hired after leaving Delta Charter and that he is not sure what his new duties will be yet, but that they will be finalized within the next two weeks.

“I look forward to working with Ms. Washington, she’s a quality person, and I look forward to helping her anyway I can,” Givens said.