Awards & Recognition: District Principals of the Year Named

Each year, in November, the Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals names its district principals of the year and the Alabama Association of Elementary School Administrators names district nominees for Alabama’s National Distinguished Principal.

Middle School Principal of the Year

Each district’s selection was considered before the finalists for the Middle School Principal of the Year award were chosen. The district principals of the year were recognized at an awards ceremony at the AASSP/AAMSP Fall Conference on November 9, 2021. The district principals of the year are:

District 1 - Robbie Smith, Orange Beach Middle School, Baldwin County

District 2 - Perry Dillard, South Dale Middle School, Dale County

District 3 - Cicely Curtis (finalist), R.B. Hudson STEAM Academy, Selma City

District 4 - Lee Jackson, Holtville Middle School, Elmore County

District 5 - Larry Haynes (finalist), Oak Mountain Middle School, Shelby County

District 6 - Lori Carlisle, Wadley High School, Randolph County

District 7N - Kevin Wieseman, Florence Middle School, Florence City

District 7S - Lisa Wright, South Lamar School, Lamar County

District 8 - April McCutcheon (finalist), Buckhorn Middle School, Madison County

The Alabama Middle School Principal of the Year Award is sponsored by the Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals and Horace Mann. AASSP is grateful to Horace Mann for their support and recognition of outstanding Alabama public school administrators.

High School Principal of the Year

Each district’s selection was considered before the finalists for the High School Principal of the Year award were chosen. The district principals of the year were recognized at an awards ceremony at the AASSP/AAMSP Fall Conference on November 9, 2021. One overall winner will be named in January. The district principals of the year are:

District 1 - Arnold Cox, Chickasaw High School, Chickasaw City

District 2 - Joshua Herring, Ariton School, Dale County

District 3 - Terina Gantt (finalist), Demopolis High School, Demopolis City

District 4 - Kyle Futral (finalist), Holtville High School, Elmore County

District 5 - April Brand, Helena High School, Shelby County

District 6 - Seth Taylor (finalist), Pleasant Valley High School, Calhoun County

District 7N - Jeff Burbank, Brooks High School, Lauderdale County

District 7S - Davey Reed, Haleyville High School, Haleyville City

District 8 - Willie Moore, Athens High School, Athens City

Alabama’s National Distinguished Principal

Each AAESA district selects one nominee for Alabama’s NAESP National Distinguished Principal. In January, a committee of judges will review their applications and select three finalists. Each finalist will host a site visit of judges. Alabama’s NAESP National Distinguished Principal will be named in early spring. The district nominees are:

District I - Michael South, WC Handy Early Childhood Development Center, Florence City

District II - Christy Amick, Chickasaw Elementary School, Chickasaw City

District III - Lucile Prewitt, Oakdale Elementary School, Tuscaloosa City

District IV - Alice Turney, Riverchase Elementary School, Hoover City

District V - Brigett Stewart, Piedmont Elementary School, Piedmont City

District VII - Mary Salmon, Southview Primary School, Opelika City

District VIII - Michelle Moore ,Foley Elementary School, Baldwin County

District IX - Christie Mitten, Holly Hill Elementary School, Enterprise City

District X - Bradley Scott, Blossomwood Elementary School, Huntsville City

The Alabama National Distinguished Principal program is the state recognition program of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal program. The Alabama program is sponsored by AAESA and Classworks.