The Erie School Board has approved the first of two new assistant superintendent positions created to divide the responsibilities of a longtime administrator who is retiring.
The board approved a contract for Dr. Felicia Everson-Tuggle, who will serve as assistant superintendent with a starting salary of $190,000, plus annual increases.
Everson-Tuggle joins Erie after previously working with Superintendent Dr. Natalyn Gibbs in Tennessee. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of Schools for Metro Nashville Public Schools. She also spent 13 months as assistant commissioner of school improvement for the Tennessee Department of Education.
Before those roles, Everson-Tuggle worked for 25 years with Memphis-Shelby County Schools, serving as both a principal and science teacher. She earned her doctorate in education from Nova Southeastern University.
School Board President Dr. Jay Breneman said the district’s search attracted more than 30 applicants, including several internal candidates.
The new position comes as longtime Assistant Superintendent Theresa Szumigala steps away after more than three decades with the district. Before appointing Everson-Tuggle, the board approved paid medical leave for Szumigala from July 1, 2026, through Feb. 9, 2028, and approved her retirement effective Feb. 10, 2028.
Szumigala’s final annual salary was about $154,000, approximately $36,000 less than Everson-Tuggle’s starting salary.
Everson-Tuggle will oversee one of the district’s two newly created assistant superintendent positions, with the second position expected to be filled as the district continues restructuring its leadership team.