‘She really strove for excellence.’ Former principal of 3 Muscogee County schools dies

Carol Hutcheson, former principal of two Muscogee County schools, has died.

Hutcheson was 74 when she died Jan. 24 “after a long health journey,” according to her obituary.

She was principal of Key Elementary School and then Georgetown Elementary School when superintendent Guy Sims appointed her as the first principal of East Columbus Magnet Academy, a middle school which opened in 2000. Hutcheson retired in 2007.

“She did an outstanding job,” Sims, who was Muscogee County School District superintendent from 1997-2002, told the Ledger-Enquirer. “She was a committed educator. She really strove for excellence in education. . . . She was not mean about it, but she really did not accept someone doing less than their best, and she would work with them to help them do that.”

Leading the effort to open a new school “is not an easy task,” Sims said, “but she was very deliberate and very organized. She loved education. She loved children. She was very positive. There were so many good things about her.”

During her 38 years working in MCSD, Hutcheson also was assistant principal of Waddell and Carver elementary schools. She taught reading in the Title I programs at Wood, Georgetown, Rigdon, St. Elmo and Johnson elementary schools and third grade at Wesley Heights Elementary School.

Hutcheson served on local boards for the American Red Cross and Alpha Chi Omega sorority as well as the Georgia Elementary Principals Association. She helped the youth program at First Presbyterian Church and served as an elder at Grace Presbyterian Church.

Her funeral is scheduled for Jan 29, starting at 2 p.m., in Parkhill Cemetery.