As the school year comes to an end, Oxford Elementary School will have a new beginning.

Cindy Bigham has been appointed as the new principal of OES, Oxford School District superintendent Brian Harvey announced Friday morning. Bigham is currently the assistant principal at Della Davidson Elementary School. Prior to that appointment, she served as assistant principal at OES and as a special education teacher for Oxford Middle School.

Bigham graduated from Mississippi College with a bachelor’s degree in special education, and obtained a master’s degree in the same subject from Mississippi State University.

While teaching in Oxford, she earned a specialization in educational leadership from Ole Miss. Harvey said he believes Bigham’s years of training and hands-on experience will be an asset to OES.

“Mrs. Bigham’s experience as an assistant principal in our district, as well as her experience in teaching students with special needs, makes her the perfect fit for leading Oxford Elementary next year,” said Superintendent Harvey.

Bigham will replace current OES principal Tamara Hillmer, who was recently announced as the new Director of Early Childhood and Reading Development for Oxford and Lafayette County. She will begin her new role on July 1.