Mrs. Opal Hay began her teaching career in 1984 at East Side Elementary in the third grade. She then taught four years in the Shelby County School System and one and one-half years at Sunny Hill School. She has also served as the Even Start Program Director/Coordinator and the Education Edge Director/Coordinator. In 1997 she was appointed to an assistant principal position at Haywood High where she served until May 2009. Mrs. Hay attended Douglas Junior High School from first through10th grades and is a Carver High School graduate. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lane College, a master’s degree from Trevecca Nazarene and an Education Specialist Degree from Union University. She also has 45 above hours from Union University and the University of Memphis. She is the widow of the late William F. Hay.

Assistant Principal: Rita Matheny (mathenyr@k12tn.net)

East Side Elementary Assistant Principal Rita Matheny has been teaching since 1994. She taught first grade at Haywood Elementary from 1994 through 2002, then at East Side in third grade from 2002 to 2007. For the last two school years, she has served the Haywood County School System as a reading coach, kindergarten through second grade. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Memphis and a Master of Science in Leadership and Policy Studies, also from the University of Memphis. Before entering the teaching profession, Mrs. Matheny worked in the medical field. Mrs. Matheny is a native of Carroll County, and is married to Mike Matheny. They have two children, Miles and Madeline, both Haywood High graduates.