Jamie Hill recognized as ‘District 8 Principal of the Year’
MADISON – Madison educator Jamie Hill has been selected as “District 8 Principal of the Year” by Council of Leaders for Alabama Schools or CLAS. Hill serves as Principal at Discovery Middle School.
In 1969, Alabama school leaders founded a professional association focused on children, professional development and school administrators’ needs. The association adopted its current name in 1998.
CLAS’ mission is to coordinate and assist the members’ resources for the advancement of public education. CLAS members choose quality professional development as the organization’s most important function. CLAS membership is open to individuals who hold or are seeking positions in school administration.
Hill’s career in education has spanned 22 years, all with Madison City Schools except one year as principal of Eagle Academy Alternative School in Athens. After starting as a special education teacher, he moved into administration for four years as assistant principal at Bob Jones High School in 2007.
Hill then served as MCS Special Education Coordinator for three years. In 2014, he became Principal of Columbia Elementary School, where he served six years. He has worked as Principal of Discovery since 2021.
Hill has been a CLAS member for 12 years.
Compared to elementary students, middle-school students have different needs and are much more diversified. “The curriculum also is more diverse with advanced courses, clubs, activities, the arts, world languages, career tech, special needs/gifted, athletics. We’re all in search of an identity,” Hill said.
After graduation from Hazel Green High School, Hill attended Middle Tennessee State University or MTSU, University of Alabama in Huntsville or UAH and Athens State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in collaborative special education.
His graduate study has included a master’s degree in educational administration, Tennessee State University; and Ed.S. in educational administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham or UAB. He is pursuing a doctorate’s degree in educational administration at UAB.
Hill was inducted into Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame for his baseball career at Hazel Green, MTSU, UAH and professionally with Texas Rangers.
His wife Denise, a 1993 Bob Jones graduate, works as a dental hygienist for Dr. Dale Allen.
The Hills’ sons, Cole and Cam, attended MCS. Cole played football and graduated from University of Alabama; after one year at Faulkner University Law, he is applying his degree in finance for J.P. Morgan in Nashville, Tenn. Cam played baseball and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Auburn University in August; currently, he’s interviewing with multiple companies in medical device sales.
The family owns Rhett, a five-year-old golden retriever.
