2025 Year in Review: Dallas County adds new key leaders, schools under state takeover

Dallas County had an eventful year in 2025 with new leaders of economic development, Craig Field and the Dallas County School system.

And the school system was put under state takeover in March.

The state of Alabama Education Department took over the Dallas County system because of financial issues and chose to bring in Dr. Corey Jones as the new superintendent because of his track record getting school systems back on track both in education and finances. 

Jones left Greene County Schools to take over at Dallas County, but he doesn’t have to travel far. He lives in Valley Grande. Watch a video interview with Jones here.

The area has high hopes for economic growth with the hiring of Brenda Tuck as the new executive director of the Dallas County Economic Development Authority. She is replacing Wayne Vardaman, who is retiring after 24 years.

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Tuck previously served as rural development manager and regional workforce council liaison for the Alabama Department of Commerce and executive director of the Marengo County Economic Development Authority. 

Craig Field Airport Authority got a new executive director in September. Col. Ryan Corrigan took over for his father, outgoing director Jim Corrigan, who retired after seven years of service. 

Board leadership was looking for someone with military and civilian aviation experience to expand training and partnership opportunities. Ryan Corrigan, who was born in Selma when his father was stationed at Craig Airfield in the 1970s, has extensive military aviation experience with the Air Force and civil aviation experience and is familiar with airfield operations from air traffic control to facilities maintenance. 

Dallas County Sheriff's Office continued rebuilding the jail that was badly damaged in the January 2023 tornado and hopes to reopenthe Dallas County Jail in 2026.

The city of Orrville made progress in 2025 with its plans to build the city’s first public library. After nearly a decade of planning, construction started in the fall using federal funds from Congresswoman Terri Sewell. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for March. Watch a video of Mayor Louvenia Lumpkin talking about the new library here.