SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The Sylacauga Board of Education approved leadership changes at its two elementary schools during April’s monthly meeting, naming Dr. Paula Bruno principal of Pinecrest Elementary School and Cindy Cleveland principal of Indian Valley Elementary School. Both appointments take effect July 1, 2026.
Bruno succeeds Jodi Shaw, who will transition to gifted specialist for Sylacauga City Schools. Cleveland replaces Bruno, who has served as Indian Valley’s principal since 2019.
Dr. Bruno brings administrative and classroom experience to Pinecrest, where she previously taught beginning in 2007. She later served as assistant principal at Nichols-Lawson Middle School before becoming principal at Indian Valley. During her tenure, Indian Valley was recognized in 2025 as an SREB Gene Bottoms Pacesetter School, an honor Bruno credited to faculty collaboration and strategies developed through the PreK-3 Leadership Academy with the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools.
Superintendent Dr. Michele Eller said Bruno’s background positions her well for the transition. “Dr. Bruno brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role as principal of Pinecrest Elementary School,” Dr. Eller said.
Dr. Bruno earned a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of West Alabama in 2012, followed by a master’s in instructional leadership and an education specialist degree from Jacksonville State University. She completed a doctorate from Samford University in 2022, focusing on elementary reading literacy teachers’ self-efficacy.
Cleveland most recently served as assistant principal at Indian Valley, a role she has held since 2019. She previously taught at Indian Valley and Stemley Road Elementary and later served as a Title I interventionist. Cleveland said she values working with young learners and building relationships with families.
Indian Valley’s Pacesetter recognition came during Cleveland’s tenure as assistant principal. She is currently part of the 2025-26 PreK-3 Leadership Academy cohort.
“Mrs. Cleveland has been a driving force in school improvement at Indian Valley Elementary,” Dr. Eller noted. “I look forward to seeing the continued growth under her leadership.”
Both administrators are graduates of Sylacauga High School and longtime members of the community locally.
