Principal spotlight: Thomas Adams- Shirley Simmons Middle School

MADISON COUNTY, Miss. ( WJTV ) – October marks a special celebration for school principals. Principal Thomas Adams is one of them. He leads Shirley Simmons Middle School in Canton.

“Education is the most important thing that we have going right now. It’s the biggest opportunity for ourselves to make a different life for themselves,” said Principal Adams.

His students say, they are thankful for his positive spirit and for believing in them. Just ask student representatives A’laysha Plummer, Damon McQueen, and Kentron Burt.

“Mr. Adams, he’s determined for us to be our best,” said Plummer, eighth grader at Shirley Simmons Middle School.

“He’ll tell me, you’re the leader now. You set examples for the school. It makes me feel wonderful,” said Damon McQueen, eighth grader at Shirley Simmons Middle School.

This is the first time that Principal Adams has led the Madison County School to its first “A” rating this year. He credits his team for their latest achievement.

“We appreciate the community, we appreciate the parents, we appreciate the district, we appreciate everyone because this doesn’t happen by itself,” said Principal Adams. “This happens as a community effort.”

Bianca Brown helped lead her sixth grade math students to score within the top 10 schools in Mississippi on the 2023-2024 end of year test.

“It was a lot of behind the scene hours that took place, preparing and ensuring that I was providing quality instruction and making sure they were ready to perform and they did,” said Brown, Math Department Chair at Shirley Simmons Middle School.

“I’d like to say he’s one of the greatest principals I’ve ever had,” said sixth grader Kentron Burt.

If you have a principal you’d like to spotlight for National Principals month, email us at coolschools@wjtv.com.

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