Central High in Phenix City will have a new principal next school year
Central High School will have a new principal next school year.
Kerry McDonald, who has been Central’s principal the past three years, is retiring after working for 30 years in Phenix City Schools, he confirmed to the Ledger-Enquirer.
“I have a godson that’s 9 years old, and he’s involved in a lot of school activities,” McDonald said, “and it’s just time for me to start spending more time with my family and things like that.”
McDonald’s retirement date is July 1. His successor hasn’t been announced. The Ledger-Enquirer didn’t reach PCS Superintendent Janet Sherrod for comment before publication, so it’s unclear when she plans to recommend to the board a new principal for Central.
During its December 2021 meeting, the Phenix City Board of Education unanimously approved then-superintendent Randy Wilkes’ recommendation to appoint McDonald as Tommy Vickers’ successor at Central.
Vickers retired in February 2022, concluding his 30-year career at Central, including 11 as principal.
McDonald started his tenure as Central’s principal in March 2022. He previously was principal of South Girard School, which teaches the district’s eighth-graders, for seven years.
The rest of McDonald’s three decades working in PCS have been as a physical education teacher at three schools and an assistant principal at Phenix City Intermediate School (2005-10) and Central (2010-14). He also was an assistant coach in football and track & field at Central
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McDonald said he relied on his faith to determine the best time to retire.
“You just pray about it and ask the Lord for guidance,” he said.
McDonald was committed to remaining Central’s principal until the last class he had at South Girard graduate.
“I just wanted to see this class through,” he said.
What he is most proud of in his career
Reflecting on his career in PCS, McDonald said he is proud of leading South Girard through its growth from 380 students to 591 in seven years as it maintained a B on the state report card.
“We started having community events at South Girard for people to come in and see what kind of school we had,” he said.
McDonald also is proud of helping Central improve its score on the state report card from a 71 to an 84 the past two years.
“I had some big shoes to fill,” he said, referring to succeeding Vickers. “But all the students and parents I knew from South Girard were happy to see me come to Central.”
And he was the first Black principal in Central’s history.
“It was a big deal,” he said, “but I’m just a part of the community.”
McDonald said he will retire without any regrets about his career.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve done,” he said. “I’m always the type who’s gonna stay on my knees and talk with the Lord about situations, and the Lord has been very good to me and has guided me in the right direction.”
