Davenport retires as Heritage principal but will teach, consult

Dr. Lydia Davenport has served as principal of Heritage Elementary School since 1999. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Dr. Lydia Davenport is retiring as principal of Heritage Elementary School but will continue actively in the field of education.

“It has been a great opportunity to serve the students and parents of the City of Madison,” Davenport said. “I have enjoyed my years in Madison, and l have loved every minute of my career. I have grown as a person and professional.”

Davenport will continue teaching as an adjunct professor at a local university. She will travel with the National Association of Elementary School Principals as a National Principal Mentor Coach.

“I also plan to be a consultant with a private company to mentor principals with less than two years experience in the field,” Davenport said. “I have a busy calendar until September with a trip to Hawaii for several weeks.”

For Heritage’s new principal, Davenport recommends “networking with other principals in the state and nation to stay current with next practices.”

A fifth-grade teacher at Heritage made a lasting impression on Davenport. This teacher “is very modest about her teaching. She’s one of the best teachers I’ve ever observed in the classroom, and she’s a Christian woman. She walks the walk and talks the talk when it comes to having good character,” Davenport said.

Davenport earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education at Alabama A & M University. At the University of Alabama, she received a master’s degree in administration, AA education specialist status and a doctorate’s degree in instructional leadership.

Her first teaching assignment was with Dothan City School District in 1987. She then taught in Madison County Schools at Owens Cross Roads Junior High School and was assistant principal at Horizon Elementary School. She relocated as principal for Knight Enloe Elementary School with Roanoke City Schools in 1997.

For Madison City Schools, she served as assistant principal at Liberty Middle School until becoming principal at Heritage in 1999.

“I will miss everyone a lot,” Davenport said.