The Decatur City School System serves over 8,700 students in eighteen schools. The district is composed of two high schools, three middle schools, twelve elementary schools, and an alternative high school. All schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Board Address

Decatur City Schools
302 Fourth Avenue
Decatur, Alabama 35601
256-552-3000

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Mrs. Karen Duke Board President District 3 Email: kfduke@bellsouth.net 256-355-4425 Mrs. Duke has served on the Decatur City Board of Education since 2000. Prior to serving on the board, Mrs. Duke was both a classroom teacher in the Morgan County School system and an administrator in the Decatur City School System. In 1989, Mrs. Duke was named the Alabama Reading Teacher of the Year. Since joining the Board of Education, Mrs. Duke has been active in the Decatur City Schools Foundation and the Alabama Association of School Boards. Mrs. Duke is also a very active member of the Decatur Community. In the past she has served on the Enrichment Center Board of Directors, the Decatur/Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, the Heart Fund, the United Way, the Decatur/Morgan County Visitors Bureau, and as a Rotary Reader at Frances Nungester Decatur Elementary School. Mrs. Duke holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Athens State University and a Masters in Elementary Education and an administrative certification from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Mrs. Duke has been married to her husband, David, for 39 years and they have two daughters, Audrey and Ashley. Both of her children are products of the Decatur City School System. Audrey is a French teacher in Mountain Brook, Alabama, and Ashley is an Ob-Gyn at Shelby Baptist Medical Center. Mrs. Duke and her husband are active members of the First Baptist Church of Decatur.	Mrs. Karen Duke
Joe Propst Board Member 256-353-8171 Joseph W. Propst, II was elected to the Decatur City Board of Education in 2008. He was educated in the Decatur City Schools and graduated from Decatur High. After graduation from Samford University with a B.S. degree in Business, he graduated from Cumberland School of Law with a Juris Doctorate degree in Law. Mr. Propst has practiced law for 28 years and is currently a partner in the firm of Lentz, Whitmire, House & Propst, LLP. He is also a Municipal Judge for the City of Moulton. Mr. Propst has been married for 27 years to Kristen Propst, first grade teacher at Benjamin Davis Elementary and has taught in Decatur for 24 years. They have one daughter, Mary Grace, who graduated from Decatur High in 2008 and was a member of the state championship soccer team. Mr. Propst and his family attend St. John’s Episcopal Church where he is on the Vestry and teaches Sunday School. He was formerly a board member and chairman of the board of Tennessee Valley Outreach Mission and currently serves on the board of Animal Friends Humane Society. He was formerly Alabama State Chairman of Ducks Unlimited. He is a Rotarian and has been a member of the Decatur Rotary Club for 26 years. Mr. Propst served on the Decatur City Schools Desegregation Committee that selected Leon Sheffield School as a magnet school for the Decatur City Schools.	Joe Propst
Michele Gray King Board Member Mrs. King, a life long resident of Decatur and a product of the Decatur School System, was elected to the Decatur City Board of Education in 2008. Prior to being elected to the board, Mrs. King was an active member of PTA. In addition, she served as secretary and chaperone coordinator for Austin High School Choral Boosters. Mrs. King has an Associate Degree from Calhoun Community College and completed her studies at Faulkner University where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. She also has a Certification in Procurement and Acquisition Management from UAH. Mrs. King is married to Mr. Guy R. King. They have one daughter, Mallory, who is a product of the Decatur School System. Mallory is a junior majoring in Journalism at the University of North Alabama. Mrs. King and her family are faithful members of Garner Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal church where she serves as a Teen Sunday School Teacher, Pianist and Director of the Board of Christian Education. Mrs. King is also the Worthy Matron of Murkey Cloud #86 Order of Eastern Star.	Michele Gray King
Mr. Dwight Jett, Jr. Board Member District 4 256-351-1303 Dwight M. Jett, Jr. was elected to the Board in 2000. He is a local attorney and an officer in the 1169th Engineer Group. Mr. Jett has a Bachelor's and Master's degree in History from the University of Alabama and a Juris Doctorate in Law from the University of Alabama. Mr. Jett graduated from Austin High School in 1981. He and his wife Karen Dearman Jett were born and raised in Decatur. They have one son, McKenzie. "Together we will make a difference."	Mr. Dwight Jett, Jr.
Donnie Lane Vice-President 256-350-0623 Donnie L. Lane was elected to the Decatur City Board of Education in 2008, representing District 5. He is a life-long resident of Decatur, educated in Decatur City Schools. He is a 1984 Graduate of Auburn University and is President and CEO of Enersolv Corporation in Decatur. Mr. Lane is married to Dianne Stracener Lane and has a daughter, Sarah, and a son, Daniel. They attend Beltline Church of Christ. Mr. Lane is Past President of the Kiwanis – Day Break Club, Past Chairman of the Board – Better Business Bureau, Past Chairman of the Board – Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, and a Board member of the Pryor Field Airport Authority. Mr. Lane was instrumental in the pilot implementation and continuing program of 7 Habits in Decatur’s elementary schools.	Donnie Lane
Dr. Sam Houston Superintendent Email: superintendent@dcs.edu 256-552-3000 A native of Fort Payne, AL, Dr. Houston has been a resident of Decatur, and an employee of Decatur City Schools, for the past 31 years. He received bachelors degrees in Business Administration (1968) and English and Social Studies (1970) from the University of Alabama; a masters degree in Education Administration (1971) from the University of Alabama; and his doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Tennessee in 1981. Dr. Houston began his career with Decatur City Schools in 1972 as an English teacher at Oak Park Middle School. Over the years, he served as principal of Westlawn Elementary School, principal of Westlawn Elementary Magnet School, and Supervisor of Middle and Magnet Schools. He served as Assistant Superintendent from 1983 until April of 2003 at which time he was appointed to serve as Interim Superintendent. He was named Superintendent of Decatur City Schools effective July 1, 2003.	Dr. Sam Houston
Dr. Ed Nichols Assistant Superintendent Email: ed.nichols@dcs.edu 256-552-3000 Dr. Ed Nichols has been a member of the Decatur City School System since 1988. Dr. Nichols began his career in Decatur as the Band Director at Austin High School. In 1998, he was appointed the principal of Austin High School. In 2003, Dr. Nichols was named the Assistant Superintendent of the Decatur School System. Dr. Nichols holds a B.S. and M.S. in Music Education from the University of Tennessee and an Ed.S. and Ed.D. from the University of Alabama in Educational Administration and Leadership. Dr. Nichols and his wife Missey have one child, Meredith, born in July of 2003. Mrs. Nichols is a guidance counselor at Cedar Ridge Middle School. Dr. Nichols and his family are active in Central United Methodist Church in Decatur. He is the music director for the adult choir.	Dr. Ed Nichols
Mrs. Melanie Maples Chief Financial Officer Email: melanie.maples@dcs.edu 256-552-3000 Mrs. Maples has served the Decatur City School system as the Chief Financial Officer since 2001. Mrs. Maples’ experience prior to that time included auditing public schools and governmental agencies. Mrs. Maples holds a B.S. in Accounting from Western Kentucky University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Mrs. Maples is an active member of the Alabama Association of School Business Officials and has obtained certification as Chief School Finance Officer. Mrs. Maples and her husband Tommy have four children. They live on a farm in Limestone County where they raise Registered Angus cattle. Mrs. Maples and her family attend the Elkmont Church of Christ.	Mrs. Melanie Maples

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