Eva Copeland, new Alachua Elementary principal

Just weeks after Alachua Elementary School Principal Jim Brandenburg announced plans to retire, his replacement, Eva Copeland, has already been picked.

At the recommendation of Superintendent Dan Boyd, board members of the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) voted unanimously Tuesday night to appoint Copeland as the principal of Alachua Elementary School.

Retiring Principal Brandenburg called the move, “a great opportunity for her, because it’s nice to be able to go into a school that already shares your vision.”

Brandenburg, principal at Alachua Elementary since 1992, knows a thing or two about the culture of the school and about Copeland.

Copeland was already teaching at Alachua Elementary when Brandenburg began as an assistant principal in 1991.  “She was part of the nucleus of teacher leaders who were on staff when I got here,” he said.  “She was one of the ones who shared a vision of what the school could be.”

“The challenge of anyone taking over a new position is knowing what things need to change and what things shouldn’t be changed,” said Brandenburg.  Having helped to shape the culture at Alachua Elementary gives Copeland has a leg up on the job.

Copeland taught at Alachua Elementary for about 16 years and spent the last four and a half years at High Springs Community School.  There, she’s gained more experience working in administration, serving a stint as the Assistant Principal for Administration and most recently as the Assistant Principal for Curriculum.

To fill the open principal position at Alachua Elementary, Copeland was selected from a pool known as Principals in Training, Deputy Superintendent Sandy Hollinger said.  “Ms. Copeland expressed an interest in the position and she had an outstanding interview.”

Before making the decision, Boyd reportedly met not only with school staff, but with community leaders to determine what they wanted in a principal.

By all accounts, Copeland was the best fit for Alachua Elementary.  High Springs Community School Principal Jeff Means agreed saying, “The fact that she lives out here in the community and already knows this area so well, makes her a great match for the school.”

Her departure from High Springs Community School comes as bittersweet news, Means said.  “She’s been a great asset to our school, but she’s going to be a great addition to Alachua Elementary and is the best person for the job.”

In her time at High Springs Community, Copeland has not only had experience with elementary-aged students, but middle school aged students as well.

“She has that broadened perspective of knowing what students have when they come from Irby Elementary and what they’ll need when they go to Mebane,” said Means.  “I look forward to working with her, now as a colleague, at the principal level.”

Being a principal is exactly what Copeland wants to do.  “What this means to me is that that I have achieved a goal I set for myself when I walked across the stage and got my bachelor’s degree,” she said.

She knows her responsibilities have changed significantly as she steps into the role of principal.  “I feel like I have big shoes to fill coming in behind [Brandenburg], but I feel like I’ve learned a lot from him in the years I worked for him.”

Chief among her top priorities will be continuing the strong relationships Brandenburg established in Alachua.

“I think his outreach into the community was important as he became an integral part of Alachua.”

Brandenburg doesn’t think Copeland will have any problems stepping in.  “The kids, the faculty and staff and parents are lucky to have someone who wants to be here for all the right reasons,” he said.  “Everybody here is just excited and I am, too.”

Copeland already began duties as principal, reporting to Alachua Elementary Wednesday morning.  Brandenburg said he expects he’ll be completely retired from the school by the middle of next week.

Reaching the milestone of becoming a principal is all the sweeter for Copeland.

“Being at Alachua Elementary is a dream come true because I’m part of the community and live in the community and I’m extremely excited to be taking over the position of principal here.”