‘Truly a personal decision.’ This Muscogee County principal is unexpectedly retiring.
A Muscogee County School District leader is retiring due to what he called “unforeseen personal circumstances.”
Jordan Vocational High School principal Craig Fitts confirmed the news Monday to the Ledger-Enquirer.
“I don’t want folks to read into it too much,” he said. “I am completely happy at this position. I have not been asked by anybody. It’s truly a personal decision.”
Fitts, 50, plans to end his 28-year education career, all in MCSD, on June 30.
He is in his second year as principal of Jordan, where he helped establish the school’s College and Career Academy when Early College Academy of Columbus merged with Jordan last year.
“I’m disappointed I will not be here to see this come to fruition,” Fitts said. “I’m glad I was able to be a small part of the College and Career Academy and a small part of an outstanding team on the school and district levels. … I have full confidence they will get the right person in here to carry it on and move this forward.”
No successor has been announced.
Fitts is a product of public education in Columbus. He attended Davis Elementary School, Fort Middle School and Shaw High School, graduating in 1987.
He served two years active duty in the Navy and about 10 years in the reserve, leaving as a second-class petty officer.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in secondary education mathematics from Columbus College, he taught for two years at Carver High School, four years at Jordan and nine years at Shaw.
Fitts was an assistant principal at Carver for seven years and principal of Double Churches Middle School for four years. Under his guidance, Double Churches was considered a model school for successfully implementing the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) program and significantly improving student discipline.
He earned his master’s and specialist’s degrees in educational leadership from Troy State University.
Fitts also coached throughout his teaching career. He was head wrestling coach for 15 years and an assistant football coach for 14 years, plus one year as head football coach. During that 2006 season, Fitts led Shaw to a 12-3 record and the Class AAA state championship game, losing the title to Peach County.
Asked what he will remember most about his career, Fitts said, “The unbelievable relationships and the commitment of our district to educate the students in Muscogee County.”
Fitts praised the leadership he has seen from MCSD superintendent David Lewis.
“I genuinely believe Dr. Lewis has the best interest of students in mind when he makes decisions,” he said.
In an email to the Ledger-Enquirer, Lewis said, “I regret but fully understand Mr. Fitts’ personal decision to retire and I appreciate his service to our district during his tenure in his various capacities as teacher, coach and administrator. I am particularly grateful for his leadership as principal in overseeing the many facility enhancements and spearheading the effort toward the establishment of the college and career academy at Jordan Vocational High School College and Career Academy.”
Although he isn’t certain about what he will do in retirement, Fitts said, “I’m going to be doing something. … I’m looking at options.”
This story was originally published March 9, 2020 at 11:44 AM.
