Students returning to Escambia County Middle School in Atmore next fall will see a new principal after the Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education approved the retirement of Principal Debra Bolden during Tuesday's board meeting.
Bolden, a native of Birmingham, served as principal at ECMS for four years, from 2016 to 2020.
“We made a lot of progress during that time,” said Bolden. “I worked with a very dedicated, hard-working staff and the community supported us. Because of them and the central office staff in Atmore, we were able to provide students with opportunities in Atmore that other schools didn't have, like the study art collaboration lab where we teach robotics, competition robotics, graphic design, technology skills, yearbook and other skills.”
Bolden said over the four years, the changes made have been remarkable.
“I'll miss the students most of all,” said Bolden. “I'll miss the staff. I'll miss the entire ECMS community.”
Bolden moved to Atmore from Birmingham, where she lived until the middle of seventh grade. Her father became the president of Atmore United Bank, so the rest of the family moved to Atmore. Bolden graduated from Escambia County High School and then she went to the University of South Alabama in Mobile, where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education and taught for more than 20 years. Bolden went to the University of Alabama and earned an EdS (Educational Specialist Degree) and master's degree in leadership.
Bolden worked at George Hall Elementary School in Mobile County, which was one of the lowest performing schools in Alabama, for five years. She then went to be principal at the Dr. Robert Gilyard Pre K-5 School off Dauphin Parkway and was there for seven years.
After teaching in Mobile County, Bolden said that family circumstances led her back to Atmore.
“My parents were aging and I felt it was time to come back,” she said.
Bolden said at that time, Escambia County Middle School happened to have a principal position open and she felt she was fortunate and that ECMS was just the type of school she liked.
“ECMS was a low-performing, high minority, high poverty school,” said Bolden. “Honestly, that was the only school I would have come to Atmore for.”
Bolden said she was fortunate enough to be named principal and that of all the educational opportunities she has had, and of her long career, ECHS has been the most rewarding, enjoyable of her entire career.
“Kids keep you on top of things, they keep you on your toes,” said Bolden. “They have great personalities. They keep you current on technology.”
Bolden said she had a group of friends in Atmore who knew her educational career and kept in contact with her through the 40 years since she had left Atmore.
“When I was in Mobile the last 10 or 15 years, people would contact me and tell about a job,” said Bolden. “I want to be challenged. I will always give work 110 percent. I don't like to sit around. But I really do like a challenge.”
She said in 2016, her first year at ECMS, she'll never forget what a student said to her.
“I made a point to be in every classroom every day at that school,” she said. “A student one day said, 'Thank you, Ms. Bolden, for showing us what it's like to be a real student'. That's why I do what I do.”
Bolden said she felt the students at her school have done very well. She said students thrive in structure, and that the kids knew what was expected of them and they delivered.
“They knew the routine and the procedures,” said Bolden. “It runs like a well-oiled machine. The hard work has been done and the groundwork is in place.”
Bolden says she will stay busy when she retires and that she is not one to stay idle.
“I'm not one to stay at home, I'll do something part time,” she said. “I'm looking into maybe doing some consulting, but nothing is set in stone right now.”
