Last year when the Eufaula School Board hired a new elementary school principal, they chose Dorothy Moseley, a candidate from Nicoma Park Elementary School.

Moseley, who commuted from her home near Oklahoma City, turned in her resignation Feb. 10 effective the end of this school year, citing family reasons.

Monday, April 14, the Board chose someone closer to home to replace Moseley, a person with deep roots in Eufaula and Eu- faula schools.

Shasti James, 48, assistant elementary principal, is the new principal.

The board chose someone with stellar credentials who is not likely to pull up her roots and leave anytime soon.

James was born and raised in Eufaula, an Ironhead to the core.

Her husband, Preston James, is principal at Will Rogers Elementary School in McAlester. His career began in 2004 at Eufaula High School where he taught and coached for eight years.

Shasti graduated from EHS in 1995, an outstanding basketball player who attended Seminole State College and Oklahoma State University on basketball scholarships.

In 2001 she became a teacher and coach for Eufaula schools.

In 2008, she graduated with a Master of Education in School Counseling and has served as the District Test Coordinator and as the Eufaula Elementary School Counselor.

She and her husband have four children, all gifted students, athletes: Journi, Justis, Jentry, and Jurre.

In her spare time, she enjoys running, lifting, shopping, vacationing, and spending time with her friends and family.

She is actively involved in North Fork Baptist Church and enjoys time with her church family.