ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Spanish Fort Middle principal Craig Ross has been appointed as interim principal at Robertsdale High School after RHS graduate Robbie Owen opted to remain in his position as principal at Rockwell Elementary, Baldwin County School Superintendent Dr. Alan Lee announced Monday.

Owen was appointed Friday to fill the position on an interim basis, which was vacated last week by the retirement of fellow RHS graduate Theresa Bryant.

“Personal issues have arisen that will keep (Owen) from assuming the role of principal at Robertsdale High School,” Lee said in an email sent out Monday. “Mr Owen was looking forward to returning to his community to give back what he received as a youth.”

Ross, a graduate of Indiana University, has taught math, science, biology and language arts and has been an assistant principal at Auburn City Schools and at Spanish Fort Middle before he became principal of Spanish Fort Middle. He hopes to complete his doctoral work in February.

“My intention is to appoint an outstanding experienced leader to be the principal at Robertsdale,” Lee said. “Next Spring, I will open the Robertsdale position to applicants.”

Oliver Sinclair, assistant principal at Fairhope Intermediate, will be the interim principal at Spanish Fort Middle.

“He has an outstanding career and will lead the school to greater accomplishments,” Lee said.

Baldwin County School System Communications Director Terry Wilhite confirmed Monday, Oct. 3 that Bryant retired from the school on Friday, Sept. 30 after serving 26 years as a teacher, assistant principal and the last 12 years as principal.

Assistant principal Stephen Grant served as acting principal until an interim was named on Monday.

Bryant, a graduate of Robertsdale High School, served as an English/economics teacher at RHS from February 1985 to July 1995, taught economics and served as an administrative intern from August 1995 to May of 1998 before taking over as assistant principal for the school in June of 1998.

She was named principal in July of 1999. Paul Hollingsworth served as interim principal for the 1998-99 school year following the retirement of John Falck after 31 years with the Baldwin County School System.

In a letter sent to various media outlets on Thursday, Bryant thanked the Central Baldwin Community “for the support that they have given to me as a student, teacher, assistant principal and principal at Robertsdale High School.”

“No where in Baldwin County are the people as caring and genuine as those I know in Central Baldwin,” she said. “Robertsdale High School is a special place filled with special people. I will always cherish the friendships that I made at RHS and in the community.”