ATLANTA – The Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals recently named Tift College of Education alumni as both its 2018 Principal of the Year and Middle School Principal of the Year.
Dr. Tommy Welch, principal of Meadowcreek High School in Gwinnett County, was named Principal of the Year from a pool of five statewide finalists and will represent Georgia in the competition for National Principal of the Year, sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
Dr. Welch earned his Ph.D. from Mercer in 2015.
Dr. Tiffany Taylor, principal of Carver Road Middle School in Spalding County, was named Middle School Principal of the Year in addition to being one of the five finalists for Principal of the Year.
Dr. Taylor earned both her Master of Education (2006) and Doctor of Philosophy (2009) from Mercer.
“The Department of Educational Leadership is very proud of Dr. Welch and Dr. Taylor,” said Dr. J. Kevin Jenkins, associate professor and chair of educational leadership. “The faculty who were privileged to work with them saw firsthand their dedication to improving educational opportunity for all of the students in their schools. They are both intelligent, hard-working educators who are meeting the challenges of contemporary schools, and we are not at all surprised to see them earning this type of recognition.”
The Principal of the Year program recognizes principals who excel in educational leadership, resolving complex problems, developing self and others, and community service.
About the Tift College of Education
Mercer University's Tift College of Education – with campuses in Macon, Atlanta and the University's three Regional Academic Centers – prepares more professional educators than any other private institution in Georgia. The College offers baccalaureate and graduate degrees, and is guided by the conceptual framework of the “Transforming Practitioner,” which supports those who aspire to grow professionally throughout their careers, while also seeking to transform the lives of students. education.mercer.edu
