Students and parents will see a new, but familiar face at Pike Liberal Arts School in the fall.

Rebecca Baggett was named the school’s new assistant headmaster, but she’s no stranger to Pike County.

“I was born and raised here,” Baggett said with a smile.

Baggett and her husband, Rev. Ken Baggett of Springfield Baptist Church in Brundidge, are both Goshen High School graduates. After high school, Baggett attended Troy University.

For the last 10 years, she worked at Ashford Academy and the last five of those were as headmaster. Prior to her time at Ashford, Baggett retired from the Montgomery Public School system with 25 years experience.

“I love teaching children,” Baggett said, “and the Lord just blessed me by opening up this opportunity to do that at home.”

Baggett said she believes in discipline and character building for kids and said she learned from the best, her parents and grandparents.

“I have a long heritage of strong work ethic taught by all of them,” Baggett shared with a laugh.

Baggett will be in charge of discipline for grades four through 12 and will collaborate with the physical education teachers to strengthen that program.

Although they haven’t worked side-by-side every day, Baggett and PLAS Headmaster Ceil Sikes know each other well. The pair attended monthly meetings as headmasters and both worked in the Montgomery school system.

“She believes in the same kind of mission and beliefs that we have here at Pike Liberal Arts,” Sikes said. “We are excited about the opportunity to have her here with us.”

“I’ve devoted my life to trying to make a difference in the lives of children,” Baggett said. “I am excited to get to know all the students and their parents.”