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Amy Thornton was named Troup County School System’s new director of secondary education at Thursday night’s school board meeting.

Thornton takes over for Jonathan Laney, who retired earlier this year.

Thornton began her career in 1997 as a high school English teacher at Callaway High School. From 2004-2009, she served as an instructional specialist at Long Cane Elementary School.

She then moved to Canon Street Elementary for a year in the same position.

In 2010, she was named Callaway Elementary School’s principal and served in that role until 2018.

In 2018, she was named principal of Callaway Middle School and served in that role until 2022.

In 2022, she was named as K-12 school liaison and has served as interim director of secondary education since November 2023.

Thornton also is a product of the Troup County School System, as she started her education at Mountville Elementary in 1980 and graduated from Troup High School in 1992.

“Amy has a proven track record of success at all three levels and will be a great addition to our district administrative leadership team,” Superintendent Brian Shumate said Thursday night in introducing Thornton.

“I appreciate your vote of confidence in me…,” Thornton said, adding that Troup County Schools has meant a lot to her. “Public education is where it’s at, and I hope to be a voice for that.”

She said one of her kids has already graduated from TCSS and another will graduate this year. Her grandbaby is also about to start pre-K at TCSS.

“I’m going to make things better for my community that I came back to live and work in and encouraged my children to come back here and work here in Troup County,” Thornton said.