AASSP Middle School Assistant Principals of the Year Recognized
Montgomery, Ala, November 11, 2025 — The Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP), an affiliate of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS), proudly recognized the 2025-2026 Middle School District Assistant Principals of the Year during an awards ceremony at the recent AASSP/AAMSP Fall Conference. These exceptional administrators represent the very best in middle-level leadership and were honored for their commitment to students, staff, and school communities across Alabama.
The district Middle School Assistant Principals of the Year are:
| District 1 | Leroy Jones, Booker T. Washington Middle School, Mobile County |
| District 2 | Brendan Dow, Coppinville Junior High School, Enterprise City |
| District 3 | No District Winner Selected |
| District 4 | Daisy Benford, Sanford Middle School, Lee County |
| District 5 | Sonya Blunt, Northridge Middle School, Tuscaloosa City |
| District 6 | Clint Brannon, Sardis Middle School, Etowah County |
| District 7N | Lorel Nix, Florence Middle School, Florence City |
| District 7S | No District Winner Selected |
| District 8 | Erin Smith, Academy for Academics and Arts, Huntsville City |
One of these distinguished district winners will be selected as the 2025-2026 AASSP Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year, with the announcement expected in the coming weeks. This statewide honor highlights exemplary leadership and commitment to educational excellence in Alabama’s middle schools.
“These outstanding assistant principals serve as the backbone of their schools. They support students, empower teachers, and help create learning environments where everyone can thrive,” said Dr. Farrell Seymore, executive director of CLAS and AASSP. “We are proud to recognize their leadership and celebrate the positive impact they make every day in middle schools across Alabama.”
The AASSP Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year Award is sponsored by Virco Manufacturing, a valued partner committed to supporting the success of Alabama’s educational leaders. AASSP extends its gratitude to Virco for their continued support and recognition of excellence in school administration.
The overall winner of the 2025-2026 AASSP Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year will be recognized in Washington, D.C., as part of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Middle School Principal of the Year program. There, the Alabama winner will join other state winners from across the country and compete for the title of National Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year, showcasing the exceptional leadership and impact of Alabama’s school administrators on a national stage.
(For more information, please contact Alyssa Godfrey, CLAS Director of Communications, at 334.265.3610 or at alyssa@clasleaders.org)
About Virco Manufacturing: Virco Manufacturing is a leading supplier of furniture and equipment for K-12 schools, offering innovative and quality solutions to support educational environments. virco.com
About AASSP: The Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals serves as a voice and a resource for public school secondary administrators. AASSP is an affiliate association of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS). CLAS is an umbrella association that serves thirteen different affiliates comprised of Alabama’s public school administrators. CLAS is dedicated to providing the framework to connect dedicated school administrators and other successful leaders with a network for professional growth and support. For more information, visit www.clasleaders.org
