District Nominees Named for Alabama’s NAESP National Distinguished Principal
Montgomery, Ala. – November 18, 2025: The Alabama Association of Elementary School Administrators (AAESA), an affiliate of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS), proudly announces the 2025 district nominees for Alabama’s NAESP National Distinguished Principal (NDP). The Alabama NAESP National Distinguished Principal program is sponsored by Bailey Education Group.
Each AAESA district selects a K-8 school principal as a nominee for the Alabama NAESP National Distinguished Principal. The district nominees were recognized at an awards luncheon at the AAESA Fall Instructional Leadership Conference on November 18, 2025.
The district nominees are:
District I | Dr. Sheneta Smith, Howell Graves Preschool, Muscle Shoals City |
District II | Mrs. Veronica Coleman, Chastang-Fornier K-8 School, Mobile County |
District III | Mrs. Preeti Nichani, Tuscaloosa Magnet Elementary, Tuscaloosa County |
District IV | Mr. Melvin Love, Oxmoor Valley Elementary, Birmingham City |
District V | Mrs. Katie Holland, Albertville Elementary, Albertville City |
District VI | No nominee selected |
District VII | Dr. Jackie Greenwood, Dean Road Elementary, Auburn City |
District VIII | Mr. Jim Perry, Stapleton Elementary, Baldwin County |
District IX | Mr. Barry Wood, Pleasant Home School, Covington County |
District X | Ms. Crystal Alexander, Jones Valley Elementary, Huntsville City |
“We are incredibly proud to recognize these outstanding district nominees for Alabama’s NAESP National Distinguished Principal,” said Dr. Farrell Seymore, executive director of CLAS and AAESA. “Each nominee exemplifies exceptional leadership, a steadfast commitment to students, and an unwavering dedication to the communities they serve. Their influence strengthens schools across our state, and we look forward to celebrating their continued accomplishments.
In early 2026, three finalists will be selected from among the district nominees. A panel of judges will then conduct a school visit with each finalist, including interviews with teachers, parents, and community members. After completing all visits, the judges will select Alabama’s NAESP National Distinguished Principal, who will be named in spring 2026. The state winner will be recognized at a reception in Washington, D.C. in October of 2026.
The Alabama NAESP National Distinguished Principal program is the state recognition program of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal program. The Alabama program is sponsored by AAESA and Bailey Education Group.
About Bailey Education Group: Bailey Education Group provides instructional support and leadership development for K–12 schools, offering customized solutions that improve student outcomes. Bailey Education Group is the proud sponsor of Alabama’s NAESP National Distinguished Principal program.
About the NAESP National Distinguished Principal Award: Each year, NDPs represent Pre-K through grade 8 public schools from across the country as well as principals in U.S. private schools and those from the United States Department of Defense Office of Educational Activity and the United States Department of State Office of Overseas Schools. Public school elementary and middle-level principals are nominated by peers in their state, and final selections are made by committees appointed by each of NAESP’s state affiliate offices. Honorees from private schools and overseas schools are selected by special committees.
About AAESA: The Alabama Association of Elementary School Administrators is an affiliate association of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS). AAESA’s mission is to serve as an advocate for children while striving to enhance effectiveness in the supervision and administration of elementary and middle schools.
This press release was corrected to reflect the District X nominee is in the Huntsville City School system. Originally, it stated that she was in Jefferson County.
