These 18 Montgomery public schools have new principals

Teachers and officials in Montgomery Public Schools are preparing for the upcoming school year as families across Alabama do.

At least 18 new principals will join the district this year. Some have already worked for MPS, some are being promoted from assistant principal at their schools, while yet others are new to the area.

The Montgomery Public Schools began announcing leadership changes in June, and with the start of the school year approaching, the Montgomery Advertiser prepared a list of some of the newest principals. Montgomery students will return to school in just under three weeks, on August 10.

Here are the key administrative roles at 18 MPS schools for the 2023-24 academic year:

Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet School

Kimberly Copeland, a long-time educator, has been selected as principal of Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet School.

Copeland began her work as an English teacher with MPS after receiving her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University at Montgomery. She has worked in a variety of grade levels and schools, from Jefferson Davis High School (now Johnson, Abernathy, and Graetz High School) to Georgia Washington Middle School (later Pike Road High School).

Copeland formerly worked as an assistant principal at Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook and has a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from the University of West Alabama.

Brewbaker Intermediate School

Brewbaker Intermediate School’s new principal is April Scott.

She comes to the post after serving as the assistant principal at Seth Johnson Elementary School for several years. Scott has already been recognized for her efforts to fulfil the needs of children in her school, and MPS awarded her with an Employee of the Month award in March 2021.

At the time, the principal of Johnson Elementary School described her as a “hard-working, innovative, and dedicated educator” who was indispensable.

Brewbaker Middle School

Natasha Starr is the next principal at Brewbaker Middle School for the 2023-24 school year.

She was previously the principal at Brewbaker Intermediate for several years, and Alabama State University honoured her with the 50 Under 50 award in 2022.

Brewbaker Primary School

Tiffany Scissum will take over as principal of Brewbaker Primary School this year.

She began working with MPS in 2004, and over the years, she rose to the position of principal. Scissum previously served as principal of Floyd Elementary School, and after the interim-state superintendent ordered the school’s closure in 2018, Scissum took over as principal of Seth Johnson Elementary.

She served the community there for the last five years before moving on to Brewbaker Primary.

Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School

BrewTech’s new principal is Jason Norred.

Norred has been promoted from his prior position as assistant principal at the institution. Norred has 25 years of experience at MPS, according to his LinkedIn page.

He received his master’s degree from Auburn University at Montgomery after working for the City of Montgomery’s Parks and Recreation Department for several years. He worked his way up from there.

Johnnie Carr Middle School

Johnnie Carr Middle School’s new principal is Sylvia Goshton.

She takes over after working as the grade assistant principal at the former Jefferson Davis High School (now known as Johnson, Abernathy, and Graetz High School).

Goshton is from Dothan and graduated from Auburn University at Montgomery and Alabama State University.

Carver Elementary and Arts Magnet School

Carver Elementary & Arts Magnet School’s new principal is Angela Sampson.

She is a Montgomery resident who went on to acquire various degrees in education from Alabama State University, Troy University in Montgomery, Auburn University in Montgomery, and National University after graduating from an MPS high school.

Sampson has also been the principal of various schools over her career, including Pintlala Elementary, MacMillan Elementary, and Highland Gardens Elementary.

Dannelly Elementary School

Dannelly Elementary School’s new principal is Aundria Sewell.

She got promoted from assistant principle to principal at Dannelly this year. Her other MPS experience includes time spent at Halcyon Elementary School.

Elementary School Seth Johnson

Johnson Elementary School’s new principal is Desmond Mullins.

He previously served as principal of Jefferson Davis High School, which has subsequently been renamed after civil rights leaders Ralph Abernathy and the Rev. Robert Graetz, as well as Judge Frank M. Johnson.

Mullins recently organized a welcoming session and meet-and-greet to introduce himself to the Johnson Elementary parents and students.

Johnson, Abernathy & Graetz (JAG) High School

Carlos Hammonds is the new principal of JAG High School, which was previously known as Jefferson Davis High School.

Following a summer of protests over George Floyd’s death, MPS decided to rename the school in 2020, and the new name was announced in November 2022. This will be the first complete school year under the new name and Hammonds’ direction.

Previously, Hammonds was the associate principal and athletic director at Birmingham’s Huffman High School.

Sidney Lanier High School

Cynthia Tucker has been appointed as the new principal of Sidney Lanier High School.

Tucker is an alumni of Auburn University at Montgomery and was elevated from associate principal at the school.

McIntyre Comprehensive Academy

McIntyre Comprehensive Academy’s new principal is Tavien Feaster.

He got his bachelor’s degree from Auburn University at Montgomery in 2003 after doing his student teaching with MPS. In 2010, he got his master’s degree in business administration from South University.

Before returning to Montgomery, Feaster taught fourth grade at a Howard Road Academy Charter School in Washington, D.C. He was most recently the athletic director at Goodwyn Middle School.

Montgomery Preparatory Academy for Career Technologies (MPACT)

MPACT’s new principal is Ken Britford.

He joins MPS from Pike County Schools, where he was principal of Pike County High School. Britford holds education degrees from Alabama State University and Auburn University at Montgomery. He also attended the Superintendents’ Academy at the University of Alabama and completed a degree in educational leadership at Georgia College and State University.

Thelma Smiley Morris Elementary School

Morris Elementary School’s new principal is Tameka Shepherd.

She was promoted from an assistant principal post there this year. MPS honoured her significant contributions to Morris in September 2021 by awarding her Employee of the Month.

Percy Julian High School

Ibrahim Lee will be the first principal at Percy Julian High School, which will take over for Robert E. Lee High School.

Last year, the school was renamed, and MPS is in the midst of planning and developing a new building on North Eastern Boulevard.

Lee, the new principal, was previously the principal of Montgomery area charter school LEAD Academy. The school board voted against retaining him after less than a year on the job for an unspecified reason.

Lee has worked for MPS in a variety of capacities, including principal at Floyd Elementary. He was the director of Montgomery Community Action Head Start as well.

Pintlala Elementary School

Pintlala Elementary School’s new principal is Jasmine Deese.

She formerly worked as an assistant principal at Garrett Elementary School in MPS, and her former colleagues congratulated her on the new position on social media.

“Mrs. Deese was an extraordinary Assistant Principal who worked tirelessly to make everyday special for everyone within our building, and for that we say thank you,” Garrett Elementary noted in a tweet. “Congratulations, and we wish you the best of luck in your new venture!”

Deese attended Auburn University in Montgomery.

Southlawn Middle School

Southlawn Middle School’s new principal is Victor Davis.

He attended Alabama State University and Auburn University at Montgomery. Davis formerly worked as McKee Middle School’s assistant principal.

Vaughn Road Elementary School

Vaughn Road Elementary School’s new principal is Nykeya Jackson.

She has 20 years of teaching experience and is a graduate of Alabama State University and Auburn University in Montgomery. Jackson has previously worked at Davis Elementary and Morris Elementary, and she has also assisted in the administration of the MPS Summer Learning Program.

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