East Franklin Junior High has a new principal this year, but LeAnn Trapp is no stranger to the school.

In 2005 Trapp became the special education aide for a year before transitioning to reading specialist. Now she’ll lead all EFJHS from the principal’s office.

Trapp is from Winston County, but her husband’s family is from the East Franklin area.

A graduate of Athens State, she has been an educator for 19 years. Her husband, Bradd Trapp, is a shift manager for Wayne Farms in Decatur, and they have been married 20 years. Their son, Noah, passed away when he was 8, and their daughter, Daylee, 11, is enrolled EFJHS. “I was my daughter’s second grade teacher,” added Trapp. “I enjoy getting to have such an active role in her life.”

Trapp said she is looking forward to being able to have a positive effect on more students than just the ones in a single classroom, as principal. She added it’s exciting to be afforded the opportunity to be the principal in a school where she has already been working for several years.

Trapp said she is most accustomed to working with kindergarten through third-graders because that’s the age range she worked with as a reading specialist, but she is eager to work with older students as well, particularly since students all the way up through ninth grade tend to be more impressionable. “Sometimes you can make a bigger difference in the lives of older students than with the younger ones.”

She said she is passionate about promoting and enhancing literacy.

“I would love for our K-3 to continue in the direction it’s going,” said Trapp. “The Alabama Literacy Act is huge right now, and we have to be careful we ensure that our students are continuing to grow in their literacy.” Trapp said reading is a foundation, even for other subjects like math, and students who struggle in reading tend to struggle across several subjects of study.

“Mrs. Trapp is very familiar with East Franklin Junior High and its community,” said Franklin County Superintendent Greg Hamilton. “She is a hard worker and is very knowledgeable in literacy law, something which is paramount to student success.”

“I’m so excited for Mrs. Trapp,” said Megean Berryman, the former East Franklin principal. “We worked together closely last year. As the reading specialist, her input was crucial to ensuring compliance with the Alabama Literacy Act. She is wonderful at what she does, and you can tell she loves her work. I have no doubt she will keep leading the school in the right direction.”

Trapp said East Franklin’s school culture is very positive overall, noting the school has been through a lot, from the 2011 tornadoes hitting the community to losing two faculty members during the past year – one of whom, Debbie Rambo, worked as a teacher’s aide and bus driver for Franklin County Schools for 32 years. “She absolutely loved our students,” said Trapp. “Debbie was the heart and soul of our school.”

With total enrollment at 240, that makes it easier to get to know all the students – something that’s especially important to Trapp, as she hopes to have a positive influence on each of them.

“Our school is unique,” said Trapp. “We’re all very close. Our faculty and students are like family. I have received so much support, and I want to be a supportive leader in return. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.”