Tuscaloosa City Schools names new principals named at Northridge, Bryant high schools
Two high schools in the Tuscaloosa City Schools system will have new principals for the 2023-24 school year.
The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education on Tuesday approved new principals at Northridge High School and Paul W. Bryant High School. Eric Hines, the current principal at Eastwood Middle, has been appointed as principal for Bryant High while Jessica Williams has moved up from assistant principal to principal at Northridge High.
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Tuscaloosa City Schools will soon start the hiring process for the vacant assistant principal position at Northridge High and the principal role at Eastwood Middle.
Hines, an eight-year veteran of Tuscaloosa City Schools, will begin his tenure at Bryant starting June 1. Hines has served as principal of Eastwood Middle since 2017 and he previously served as an assistant principal at Westlawn Middle School. Before his assistant principal role, Hines taught social studies at the Westlawn Middle.
Hines said he is excited about the opportunity to continue pushing the needle of progress forward as principal at the high school level. Hines said his top priorities at Bryant will be listening to students, staff and families and building a positive culture to move the school forward.
"My first task as principal is to listen," Hines said. "It is very important that I provide a safe space for students and their families to convey what they desire in our school and work together to make those things a reality. Next, we will create the capacity for productive relationships that are built upon mutual respect and admiration."
Hines said he will also work to help share the school's story and the positive work that is taking place within its walls, helping increase the momentum of forward progress and boosting school pride.
Williams will begin her tenure as principal at Northridge High School starting June 1. Williams has worked in education for a decade, with the last four years at Northridge High School. During her time at Northridge, Williams served as an English teacher, department chair and assistant principal.
Williams said she is honored to assume the principal role of Northridge High School.
"This is a tremendous opportunity," Williams said. "I am very excited to lead the students and teachers at Northridge High School. We have many wonderful things happening at NHS; however, there are always areas for improvement and growth. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in this capacity."
Williams said some of the areas she hopes to focus on at Northridge are continuing to focus on high expectations and accountability for all, while continuing to emphasize the importance of student involvement and school spirit.
Tuscaloosa City School Superintendent Mike Daria said it was vital that TCS find two qualified, experienced administrators with proven track records to fill the roles and push the two high schools to excel even higher.
"These two principal positions are incredibly important to the system, as they help ensure that we are providing a high quality, high standard of education for students at two of the three high schools, but also they help ensure that our graduates are well prepared and have a plan for their path following graduation," Daria said. "We are incredibly lucky to have such a high caliber individuals already within the Tuscaloosa City Schools and are excited that we could hire internally for both positions."
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Northridge, Bryant high schools to have new principals this fall
