LINDALE - A familiar face to faculty and students at Lindale’s E.J. Moss Intermediate School will continue to lead the campus. Assistant principal Lori Anderson has been named the school’s new principal. The hire was approved by the school board Monday night.

Anderson, a Lindale High School graduate, began teaching at E.J. Moss in 1996 as a sixth grade language arts teacher. Over a 10 year period she also taught sixth grade math and fifth grade language arts, math and science.

She first attended Tyler Junior College earning an Associate of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. Anderson graduated Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Tyler with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. In 2001, she earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from UT Tyler and also earned her principal certification.

Anderson became the school’s assistant principal in 2006. In 2009, she was named District 7 Assistant Principal of the year by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association.

Anderson replaces Mike Griffin who retired in December 2009 after spending 17 years with LISD. Under the leadership of Griffin and Anderson, E.J. Moss was recently named a “Distinguished School” by the No Child Left Behind office of the Texas Education Agency and rated an Exemplary campus.

“I feel very privileged and honored to have been a part of Lindale ISD for the past 14 years,” Anderson said. “I look forward to this new role and the challenges it will bring. My passion is to provide a positive environment where all students feel safe to learn academically, emotionally, and socially.”

“My heart is here in Lindale and I want to do my very best to help our students and teachers be the best they can be. I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to be the principal of such an outstanding school.”

“E.J. Moss is a great campus and Lindale ISD is a wonderful district,” Superintendent Stan Surratt said. “That is the reason that we had 61 applicants for the position. After a two month process it was clear that Mrs. Anderson was the best candidate.”

“Her experiences and knowledge of fifth and sixth grade curriculum, plus her great people skills set her apart from the other candidates. E.J. Moss is an Exemplary campus and Mrs. Anderson’s influence and leadership has helped with that success. I expect nothing but future success for E.J. Moss under her leadership.”