By Haley Mitchell Godwin

As the 2024-25 school year unfolds, Luverne School has a fresh leadership team at the helm.

Principal Edward Dykes and Assistant Principal Stephanie Grayson were appointed by the Crenshaw County Board of Education on June10, and the duo have spent the last two months settling into their roles. 

Together, they are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment while fostering a renewed commitment to strengthening the sense of community within the school.

Dykes Brings Experience, Vision

Dykes is a seasoned educator with 17 years under his belt working in education and over two decades of coaching experience. He stepped into the role of principal at Luverne School with a strong foundation in leadership.

“I feel very blessed and honored to be the new principal here,” Dykes said. “Luverne is a really great school with a really great staff and a lot of really great kids.” 

His most recent position was at Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School in Montgomery, where he served for 11 years as a teacher, athletic director and a coach of various sports. With degrees from Troy State University, Faulkner University and Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM), Dykes is well-equipped to lead Luverne School.

Dikes lives in Hope Hull where he enjoys spending time with his wife, Sheri and their children, Elissa, Logan and Landon and grandson Lucas. Outside of education, Dykes is an active member of Taylor Road Baptist Church in Montgomery, where he plays drums for the praise band. He also volunteers with the Mt. Meigs Prison ministry, using his musical talents to serve inmates.

While Dykes is enthusiastic about his new position, he is equally committed to addressing any concerns within the school community,

“This job comes with the responsibility of ensuring that every one of those kids feels safe and secure,” Dykes said. “I live by four words, and I think Luverne School lives by these words too—do the right thing. That is what I want to instill in the students— to make conscious decisions based on logic, and to really think about their decisions before they are made. My goal is to reinforce trust and make sure we are all making the right decisions—not just in our academics, but in how we care for and interact with each other.”

Dykes emphasized the importance of community, adding, “Community is key for us here at Luverne. My hope is to further the foundation that has been laid and maybe even bring back some of the old traditions that the community would like to see again.”

Grayson Committed to Excellence

Joining Dykes on the leadership team is Assistant Principal Stephanie Grayson, a native of Greenville with 22 years of teaching experience. She has an extensive background in education, having taught 7th-12th grade English, served as an instructional coach and participated in multiple leadership committees in Butler County Schools. Her dedication to teaching was recognized with Greenville High School’s Teacher of the Year Award in both 2009 and 2021.

Grayson holds an impressive array of academic qualifications, including an Associate of Science degree from Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in history from AUM and two master’s degrees — one in special education from Walden University and another in instructional leadership from Auburn University. She also holds an Educational Specialist degree in instructional leadership from Auburn.

Outside of her professional life, Grayson is active in her church, Southside Baptist in Greenville, where she sings in the choir and serves on multiple committees. She is the proud mother of two children, Rhian, 20 and Roman, 17, and enjoys shopping and serving others in her spare time.

Grayson expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome she has received.

“I’m enjoying meeting the Luverne community,” Grayson said. “The students, faculty and staff have been most supportive in making my transition to Luverne a very pleasant one. Luverne is really proving itself to be the ‘Friendliest city in the South.’ Everyone has been welcoming and encouraging and assistance has been very willingly offered anytime I have needed it.”

Gilmore Completes Leadership Team

Jennifer Gilmore, now in her second year as assistant principal in this dual-occupied position, has found working with Dykes and Grayson to be a rewarding experience. She believes the leadership team is well-aligned to continue Luverne’s tradition of excellence.

“It truly takes a village,” Gilmore said. “and I’m thankful to work alongside our outstanding reading and math coaches and teachers and with Mr. Dykes and Mrs. Grayson who keep things going over on the secondary side of campus. Together, we try to encourage our students to be their best self, make good choices and achieve academically. I’m honored to be part of the Tiger family and look forward to continuing to work toward excellence in Crenshaw County.”

With dynamic leadership in place, Luverne School is positioned for a strong future, rooted in community values, tradition and educational excellence.