Miller hired as principal for MSELA for 2020-2021 school year

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

The Copperas Cove Independent School District approved the hiring of a new principal for Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy, beginning with the 2020-2021 school year that will start in August. 

The trustees held their regular meeting on Tuesday evening, and in addition to approving the hiring of a new head football coach/athletic director for the district, approved the hiring of Lea Miller for the position of principal.

Leah Miller has worked in the district for 24 years and began her career as a teacher at Mae Stevens Elementary School. She has also served as the principal of Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary, Clements/Parsons Elementary and the interim assistant principal of CCJHS and interim principal of Williams/Ledger Elementary.

Although the 2020-2021 school year is months away, Miller is ready to come full circle in her career of more than two decades, and return to the campus where it all began for her. 

“I am excited to return to Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy and the pre-K students because that is where my passion lies,” Miller said. 

She will be filling the shoes left by present MSELA principal, Mary Derrick, who is retiring at the end of the current school year. 

Derrick has worked at CCISD for 37 years of her 40 years in education. 

She is the former principal of Hettie Halstead Elementary and has served as the principal of Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy since the campus opened as the district’s prekindergarten learning center in 2014.