Hoover City Schools is proud to announce Emily Dunleavy as the next principal of Brock’s Gap Intermediate School. With 15 years of experience in education and a strong commitment to student success, instructional excellence, and school culture, she brings a wealth of leadership experience to her new role.

Dunleavy has served for the past three years as an assistant principal at Brock’s Gap Intermediate School, where she has helped grow a collaborative school environment for students, staff, and families. During her time at BGIS, the school was recognized as a National School of Character and earned Top 25 recognition through Alabama’s Legislative School Performance Recognition Program, honoring Brock’s Gap as one of the top-performing schools in the state for academic achievement and growth.

She is also a graduate of the Shelby County Assistant Principal Leadership Academy and was recognized as the AAESA Alabama Assistant Principal of the Year Nominee for District IV in 2025. In addition, she is an Alabama Technology Integration Coach and a Certified Google Trainer. Click here to read more about Ms. Dunleavy.

Hoover City Schools is proud to welcome Chris Blight as the next Athletic Director at Hoover High School. He currently serves as Oak Mountain High School’s Athletic Director, where he also serves as director of football operations, health teacher, and varsity girls soccer coach.

During his time at Oak Mountain, Blight has overseen athletic operations across multiple sports programs, including budgeting, scheduling, compliance, facility management, coaching hires, and program transitions. He has also worked closely with coaches and administrators to strengthen collaboration and support across all athletic programs. Over the past three years as Oak Mountain’s athletic director, he has helped lead an athletic department that produced more than 20 playoff appearances and five state championship appearances, while supporting continued competitive success across multiple sports programs. 

In addition to his leadership as athletic director, Blight has recently guided Oak Mountain to the Class 7A Girls Soccer State Championship match, finishing as state runner-up this season. Over the course of his career as OMHS’ head coach, he has compiled an impressive 185-36-16 varsity record. OMHS earned the 2021 state championship and finished ranked No. 1 nationally in 2020. Blight was also named the 2020 Large School Regional Coach of the Year. Click here to read more about Mr. Blight.