Legacy Leaders: Meet our Divisional Principals

Legacy Leaders

Meet Our Divisional Principals

By Madi Bixler ’14

Educational leaders have a significant impact on their schools’ culture, attitude, and reputation. They are the cornerstone upon which learning communities are built and thrive. LCA is blessed with principals who promote spiritual and intellectual growth in a nurturing and challenging environment.

LOWER SCHOOL

Principal Tiffany McCollum

Tiffany McCollum has been growing “little Eagle” hearts and minds since she began her Legacy career, back in 2008. She became Lower School principal in 2018, after serving as assistant principal. In all, she has more than 27 years of educational experience, with a master’s in educational administration from the University of Texas (Go Longhorns!). She says she’s delighted to be part of the Christian education that Legacy offers.

Her husband, Scot, has served as an assistant athletic director and assistant varsity baseball coach. The couple have two sons, Connor (’17) and Preston (’22).

Over the past 13 years, Mrs. McCollum has seen both the Lower School curriculum and technological opportunities develop. “I love being a principal at Legacy,” she says, “because I get to see children grow both academically and in their love for the Lord.” Fostering relationships with students, their families, and teachers is, she says, her “number one goal.” Every year, she creates a theme to unite the Lower School; this year’s theme, SOAR, is based on Isaiah 40:31, reminding students to demonstrate SelfControl, Obedience, Acceptance, and Respect.

Mrs. McCollum enjoys all the LCA traditions, but among her favorites, she says, are the Grandparents’ Picnic, all Homecoming festivities, and athletic games, for the “strong sense of community they provide.”

When she’s not busy receiving hugs from the little Eagles, Mrs. McCollum likes to work out and take beach vacations.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Principal Joy Bell

Joy Bell, Middle School principal, joined Legacy at the beginning of the 2020–2021 academic year, and has been developing Middle Schoolers to achieve their highest potential as scholars and in their personal growth. Dr. Bell uses an “out-of-the-box” leadership style: “I consider the individual and how to push them to excellence while supporting them.” This fosters a caring environment that encourages students to pursue their interests, guided by loving faculty and staff. “It’s important to keep Middle Schoolers’ curiosity and excitement for learning alive,” she says.

Dr. Bell holds a doctorate in education from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Her teaching career has taken her from fourth grade to college students — and everywhere in between — and she says she particularly enjoyed training teachers.

Middle Schoolers should feel cared for and supported as they become young adults, says Dr. Bell. For next year, she plans to add honors classes for the sixth–eighth grades and create more mentorship opportunities for students. “I’d also like to clarify the goals for our students, both spiritually and academically,” she says.

For Dr. Bell, it’s all in the family: Her husband, Kidren Bell, teaches history and English in the Upper School, and the couple have two children, Nia (eighth grade) and Ian (ninth grade). The Bells are musical — they enjoy singing together (mainly Christian music) — and Nia plays the piano and Ian plays the drums/marimba.

In her “free” time, Dr. Bell takes psychology classes and loves to cook: “My specialty is gumbo,” she says.

UPPER SCHOOL

Principal Kevin Mosley

Kevin Mosley, our Upper School principal, is described by some as the LCA “Renaissance man”: He’s a triple threat, dedicated to guiding young people in the arts, academics, and athletics.

Upon receiving his degree in computer science — with honors — from the University of Alabama, Mr. Mosley felt a call from God. After some time in traditional youth ministry, he began to teach, coach, and lead worship in Christian schools. He has been at the Upper School since 2012.

He encourages students to evaluate God’s call to them based on the talents with which they were created. The Upper School strives to see the “whole person,” he says, not just a student’s academic gifts.

Mr. Mosley is passionate about music — he plays the piano, drums, and guitar — and basketball. He watches (and has coached) the sport, and plays golf and volleyball. His favorite basketball teams are the Dallas Mavericks and, of course, Alabama’s Crimson Tide. Mr. Mosley also loves to learn, particularly in the fields of technology and engineering.

Mr. Mosley and his wife, Cheri, have two sons, Andrew (’18) and Jonathan (’20).