Lay moves to administrative job, Adams named RMS principal

Note: This story was updated at 6:05 p.m.

Robertsville Middle School Principal Bruce Lay is taking a new administrative position for Oak Ridge Schools, and RMS Vice Principal Garfield Adams will become principal.

The assistant superintendent job that is now vacant has been reclassified as executive director of school leadership. The position was reclassified and is now vacant after former Assistant Superintendent Chris Marczak left to become director of schools in Maury County, south of Nashville. Lay has been selected to fill the new position.

Lay moved to RMS from Jefferson Middle School in 2013.

Adams was named RMS vice principal in June 2014.

Also, the supervisor of teaching and learning position has been reclassified to executive director of teaching and learning. Tracey Beckendorf-Edou has been selected to fill this position.

In a press release, Oak Ridge Schools said the new structure does not add any administrators to our current structure, and it will save about $10,348.

“The departure of Dr. Chris Marczak to Maury County afforded me an opportunity to review our organizational structure and align positions in order to move forward in a positive way yet show financial restraint,” Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers said.

Please see a summary of the various backgrounds of the staff that will be in new positions as we move forward and continue our great work for students.

Here is more information about Adams, Beckendorf-Edou, and Lay:

Tracey Beckendorf-Edou—Executive Director of Teaching and Learning

Beckendorf-Edou has lived in Oak Ridge since 2010. Prior to working for Oak Ridge Schools, she was a classroom teacher for 15 years, primarily teaching secondary math and science.

She has also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Gabon, Central Africa, an instructional coach in mathematics as a part of the Microsoft Math Partnership, an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow in Washington, D.C., and a senior project manager in science education programs at Oak Ridge Associated Universities.

She began working for Oak Ridge Schools in 2012; in addition to her responsibilities there, she served as an Algebra 1 Common Core Coach and a leadership coach for the State of Tennessee, and she currently sits on the State of Tennessee’s STEM Leadership Council.

Beckendorf-Edou is also secretary of the Board of Directors for the Oak Ridge Children’s Museum, treasurer of the Oak Ridge Track Club, a member of the Breakfast Rotary of Oak Ridge, and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma society of women educators. She was awarded the 2014 Executive of the Year from the Oak Ridge chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

Her husband Kirk is a science teacher at Webb Middle School, and her daughter Patricia, a recent graduate of Oak Ridge High School, will be attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University this fall.

Bruce Lay—Executive Director of School Leadership

Lay is from Louisville, Kentucky, and he has been an East Tennessee resident for 31 years. He attended Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky, where he received his bachelor’s degree. Lay received his master’s degree from Tusculum College and then went on to receive his E.Ds. in administration and supervision from Tennessee Tech University.

Lay has been in education for 33 years. He taught for 11 years prior to becoming a principal in 1993. Lay is entering his 22nd year in administration.

Prior to joining Oak Ridge Schools, Mr. Lay was an administrator in Anderson County. Lay was the principal at Jefferson Middle School for 13 years before moving to Robertsville Middle School in 2013, where he has been principal.

Lay is married to Tracey Lay and has three children, Brandon Lay, Laura Jones, and Tiffany Fritts. He also has a grandson Caden Jones, and a second grandchild is due in December.

“Mr. Lay considers it a privilege and honor to serve as executive director of school leadership for Oak Ridge Schools and looks forward to working with the students, staff, parents, and community members to assure that all students are successful and receive a quality education,” the press release said.

Garfield Adams—Robertsville Middle School Principal

Adams is a native of Oak Ridge. He attended Robertsville Middle School and Oak Ridge High School along with his two brothers. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee. He then went on to receive his Ed.S. in administration and supervision at Lincoln Memorial University.

Adams has taught for a total of 11 years: three years at Central High School as a special education teacher and eight years with Oak Ridge Schools as an alternative teacher and behavioral specialist. He is entering his fifth year in administration. He was an assistant principal at South Doyle High School for three years and returned to his native hometown of Oak Ridge for the 2014-2015 school year as an assistant principal at Robertsville Middle School.

Adams has two children, Jaxon Adams and Micalah Adams. Micalah is a graduate of Oak Ridge High School, and Jaxon attended Linden and is currently at Robertsville Middle School. His wife Aimee Adams is also an Oak Ridge native and a graduate from Oak Ridge High School.

“Adams has a passion for education and a strong desire to serve in his community,” the press release said.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.