W.S. Neal Middle School in East Brewton welcomes native Perry Updike as new assistant principal this fall, following the retirement of former assistant principal Donald Hardyman.
A 2002 graduate of W.S. Neal High School, Updike attended W.S. Neal Elementary, Middle and High Schools growing up. She then went to Jefferson Davis Community College (now Coastal Alabama Community College) for one year, then transferred to the University of Alabama, where she earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in secondary education with a concentration in history.
Updike said her first teaching job was teaching 12th grade Government and Economics at Escambia County High School in Atmore until 2010, whens she got married.
“My husband was in the Navy, so we moved around and started a family,” said Updike.
She said her family moved back to Brewton in 2013 and she stepped back into the teaching field in 2014. She's taught at Brewton Middle School for five years.
Updike said she found out about the position when she saw it posted online, and she has friends who teach there at W.S. Neal Middle School also who informed her about the opening. She said she is excited about working with Principal Dr. Laura Leigh Rambach and feels at home.
“I live in Brewton and have three daughters, ages 8, 6 and 3,” said Updike. “I hope to get to be here for a while. I'm wanting to get some administrative experience. I'm happy with this sort of position. I may eventually become a principal, but right now, I'm super happy being assistant principal. I still want to be a mom too, a very active mom.”
