Chris Tangle’s reign atop Demopolis Middle School will end after only a year.

The Demopolis Board of Education accepted Tangle’s resignation Wednesday, clearing the way for him to accept the position as principal at Saraland Elementary School.

“It was just a great opportunity for my career and it is a good move for my family,” he said. “My wife has family down there and this gets us closer.”

Tangle was named interim principal at DMS in July 2011 upon the retirement of Booker Barlow.

In the course of a 12-year career with DCS – and an additional four years with Marengo County – Tangle has taken on the roles of teacher, coach, athletic director, principal, assistant principal, child nutrition, transportation supervisor and maintenance director.

With all that knowledge under his belt, Tangle said the most useful thing he hopes to apply in Saraland won’t come from experience. It will come from memories.

“The memories I’m taking with me are of the people here,” Tangle said. “The people in this town showed me how to work very hard to keep things nice. They are dedicated to their school system and making sure it is what it needs to be. I’m going to take that with me and apply that down there.”

Demopolis Superintendent of Education Dr. Al Griffin said the vacancy would be posted immediately and he anticipated making a hire by June 6.

“This has probably been the best year I’ve ever had,” Tangle said of closing the book on his time in Demopolis. “The teachers have worked their tails off. They’ve given 100 percent to everything they’ve done. We’ve got a great group at the middle school…very hard workers and great teachers.”

The BOE also accepted the resignation of Tangle’s wife, Michelle, who taught at Westside Elementary and will join him in the Saraland School System.

“We love this city. We love this school system,” Tangle said. “We just couldn’t pass up an opportunity like this, either professionally or personally.”