King becomes elementary curriculum director
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her new role as Franklin County Schools elementary curriculum director.
She said she looks forward to supporting teachers across the county as they adopt new grading policies for writing and reading, strengthen math instruction with help from new state-funded coaches, and prepare for updated social studies standards.
“I love research. I love standards, and I love helping teachers unpack what they mean so they can teach confidently,” she said.
King succeeds Jennifer Warhurst, who retired at the end of June to accept a new role with Kids First, an educational consulting company.
While principal at Tharptown Elementary, King said she emphasized collaboration and a family atmosphere among staff. During her tenurethere, she explained the school improved its state report card score from a D to a B and was named one of Alabama’s 25 most improved schools. It was also recognized as Region One’s Alabama Reading Initiative Spotlight School for student gains on the ACAP standardized assessment.
“We didn’t even know we were being considered,” she said. “It was a wonderful surprise.”
She is especially focused on closing learning gaps in high-poverty schools like Tharptown, where she says students often face “word poverty” and lack background knowledge others might take for granted.
“They might not know what a bridge is if they’ve never crossed one,” she explained. “We have to show them pictures, give them the context, so they can make sense of what they’re reading.”
King said she will miss daily interactions with students in her new role but is eager to support teachers countywide.
“Teaching is hard work,” she said. “But there’s nothing like watching a student’s eyes light up when they get it. And helping teachers see how successful they really are even when they feel overwhelmed, that’s the reward.”
King brings years of experience as a teacher, librarian, instructional coach, and school administrator.
Born and raised in Russellville, she graduated from Russellville High School before spending 12 years in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She described that time as a culture shock, partly because of the 300 inches of snow the area saw each year.
After returning home, she completed her bachelor’s degree in secondary English language arts at the University of North Alabama, and her master’s in library and information studies at the University of Alabama.
She taught English at Muscle Shoals High School before moving into library roles at McBride, Russellville Elementary and Russellville Middle School. At Russellville Middle she also served as Scholars Bowl coach, a role she remembers fondly for its team atmosphere and early Saturday trips to competitions.
“Those were kids who needed a place to let their knowledge shine,” she said. “They always came together as each other’s best friends.”
Her time as a librarian also deepened her passion for curriculum. She once built an online resource linking Alabama’s course of study standards to materials for teachers and students.
“Curriculum has always been a love of mine,” she said. “There’s a lot of curriculum in library science, too.”
King’s ties to Tharptown run deep. Her mother, Mary Ann Bates, taught English and science there and sponsored cheerleading. Her father, Sherman Bates, twice served as principal.
“I grew up spending a tremendous amount of time at that school,” she said. “My mother was responsible for the library. It was all cards typed on a manual typewriter. Blame her for my love of libraries.”
A lifelong reader herself with favorites including “Charlotte’s Web,” the “Little House” books and plenty of mysteries, King sees reading as a way to connect children to the wider world.
“Books let them know they’re not alone,” she said. “They let them know their feelings are normal. Reading ties us all together.”
King lives in Franklin County with her husband, Jerry. She has four sons — Fred, Chris, Joey and Michael — and a growing number of grandchildren.
