By By Adrienne McKenzie
Zickeyous Byrd was recognized last Friday night for two years of hard work and excellence as Escambia County Middle School’s principal.
Byrd was surprised as he walked in to the Atmore Family Life Center on Martin Luther King Avenue to learn that the event was in his honor.
Escambia County School’s Superintendent Billy Hines spoke to several different organizations about the 3-mill district tax prior to Tuesday’s vote so Byrd assumed the recognition ceremony was another way to inform citizens about the tax.
The master of ceremony at the event was ECMS counselor Luke Taylor. Also in attendance was Atmore city councilman Louie Turner III, Dr. Ulysses McBride, Hines and many more. Lillie Johnson gave the event’s closing remarks.
Byrd has an extensive educational background and many achievements. He finished a four-year educational program in only two years. He has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree and an educational specialist degree in educational administration and supervision. He is currently pursuing an educational doctorate in educational administration and supervision.
Byrd is the youngest principal in the state of Alabama. He has been a part of the implementation of gender based classes, the model middle school, criterion reference tests, pacing guides and curriculum alignment.
The middle school also has implemented certain projects to motivate the students under Byrd’s reign, including a middle school prom and the Mr. and Mrs. ECMS Pageant.
Byrd’s work experience includes five years of teaching in the Mobile County School System and a stint as assistant principal for one year. He has been ECMS principal for the past two years.
Byrd said he was taken aback at the fact that people took time out of their lives to recognize his achievements at the school.