Escambia Academy has hired Wade Heigle as its new headmaster.

Heigle will replace current Headmaster David Walker. At present, he is training under Walker through the rest of the school year. Walker will return to the classroom as a teacher next year.

Heigle has been in schools for 25 years. He grew up north of Vicksburg, Miss., received his bachelor’s degree after 2-and-a-half years at the University of Southern Mississippi, and earned his master’s degree from Delta State University.

Heigle said he’s been everything from a basketball coach, athletic director, teacher and administrator, but being an administrator is his calling.

“This is what I do,” he said. “It’s all I’ve ever done.”

Heigle comes to EA after working stints in Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee.

“This is my first time coming to Alabama,” he said. “I haven’t worked at a school in Alabama before.”

Heigle said he attended a joint summer conference in Gulf Shores with the Mississippi Independent School Association and the Alabama Independent School Association, and got to meet a lot of people with the state’s school association.

“I love what I do,” he said. “I love being in education, and working with kids, whether it’s in the classroom or on the court.”

Heigle said what attracted him to EA is the school’s environment.

“The No. 1 strength of Escambia Academy, even though I haven’t been there long, is that it offers a family-friendly and educational environment,” he said.

After graduation from USM and DSU, Heigle quickly rose up in the administrative ranks.

He said he’s always enjoyed the role of being a school leader.

“It’s a tough job because you’re always having to make decisions that some people are going to like and some are going to dislike,” Heigle said. “The thing I like the most about it is just getting to see the overall growth of the kids, and the overall improvement. That’s the biggest thrill for me, it’s watching the kids get better.

“When kids get better, you see that confidence exude from them,” he said.

Heigle is married to Jodie.