Partnership For a Drug Free Community awards Eric Terrell with ‘Excellence in Education’

MADISON – Partnership for a Drug Free Community has recognized Eric Terrell with its “Excellence in Education” award.

Terrell accepted the award at Partnership’s 37th Annual Meeting and Outstanding Law Enforcement and Educators Awards Luncheon. Partnership acknowledged Terrell’s strong advocacy for students, including programs against smoking, vaping and illegal drugs in schools.

Terrell is Assistant Superintendent of Madison City Schools or MCS. Jamie Gollier, MCS Safety and Security Coordinator, nominated Terrell for the award.

Terrell’s 20-year career with MCS has covered multiple schools and positions including special education, classroom teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, interim superintendent and currently as assistant superintendent.

In his first teaching assignment, Terrell taught special education classes and coached at Discovery Middle School. Then at Liberty Middle School, he served as head football and basketball coach and taught special education classes.

Then at Bob Jones High School, Terrell again was a special education teacher and was head coach for ninth-grade football and assistant head coach for varsity football. He was promoted to Assistant Principal at Bob Jones.

Terrell helped with opening James Clemens High School and then served as Athletic Director and Assistant Principal starting in 2012. He oversaw athletics, school safety, student discipline, staff acquisition, finances and other aspects.

For two years, Terrell served as Principal of Discovery. He returned to Discovery after teaching, coaching and managing administrative duties at Madison’s four secondary schools.

Madison Board of Education appointed Terrell as Interim Superintendent. At that time, Terrell dealt with many demands of the COVID-19 outbreak.

During COVID-19’s height, the board approved an emergency order to suspend several district policies about emergency- related decisions and bid advertising to purchase supplies. That order entrusted Terrell with certain decisions without board approval, given that he kept the board informed. Many decisions involved moving personnel to different assignments as needed with COVID-19’s constraints.

Madison Board of Education then named Terrell as MCS Assistant Superintendent.

Terrell received an associate’s degree at Bevill State Community College in Hamilton, his hometown. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education at Alabama A&M University. He earned a master’s degree in educational administration from Grand Canyon University.

Terrell and his wife La-Terra have two daughters, Kelsey and Kylee, who attend MCS.