Dear Central Elementary Families,

It is truly an honor to be the principal of Central Elementary. I am excited about beginning the 2023- 2024 school year and to welcome you to Central Elementary School. 

My philosophy of educating our boys and girls will always be threefold:

• To promote positive learning using innovative practices

• To spark student’s enthusiasm for learning by building positive relationships

• To provide a strong foundation for lifelong learning

My vision is for all of us to build on our students' past to face the challenges of the future in an interactive environment supporting 100% of our students every day.

Therefore, I believe wholeheartedly that every student deserves a quality education and that only happens when the school and the families work together for the best interests of our children. We are implementing many collaborative activities to increase family engagement within our school to truly have “parents as partners”! Remember, 30 minutes of reading and math skills practice nightly will help towards our goal of 80% of our champions meeting or exceeding their grade level expectations!  

It is a great honor to be recognized by the Alabama State Department of Education as a Science of Reading Spotlight School.  We are looking forward to providing a safe and nurturing environment here at Central Elementary.

All the best,

Jerry Collins, Ph.D.