BOE names new Cahaba Heights principal

The Vestavia Hills Board of Education has named a new principal for Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights.

At a special-called meeting on Wednesday morning, the school board unanimously approved Alicia Hunsberger for the position. Hunsberger has worked in education for 16 years, and she was assistant principal at Vestavia Hills Elementary West for the last three years. Before teaching at West, Hunsberger worked as a special education teacher for 12 years at Cherokee Bend Elementary School in Mountain Brook.

Hunsberger graduated from Samford University and is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership from Samford University. She has also pursued opportunities for learning outside of the classroom through graduate work at UAB, including a master's of education and an educational specialist degree, National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards and conferences and workshops, according to her administrator profile.

"Alicia has a proven record of excellence as an administrator at West," assistant superintendent Jane-Marie Marlin said this morning. "I am confident Alicia will be successful in Cahaba Heights because of her passion for serving the children and families of this district."

Hunsberger said she looks forward to becoming part of the Cahaba Heights community.

"I want the students and families to know that I'm with them, I'm there for them, and my door will always be open to them," she said. "I want to carry on the tradition of excellence at the school, capitalize on the great teaching and learning there, and keep our momentum moving forward."

Hunsberger will replace outgoing principal Kay Cooper, who announced her retirement in early June.