Ackerman Elementary School is known for its good report card, and Principal Samantha Kelly motivates students and teachers to achieve high standards annually. This year marks her ninth year as an energetic and dedicated leader in the Choctaw County School District. “Our school has been rated “A” overall in student assessment scores for eight consecutive years. If students attend from prekindergarten through sixth grade, we have gotten to know them and teach and encourage them, day in and day out for eight years,” Kelly said. In mid-July, Kelly will help enroll incoming classes of prekindergarten and kindergarten students. In all, she’ll be responsible this term for some 480 total students and 43 certified staff, among 71 total personnel. Originally, Kelly is from Clara, a Mississippi town she feels is similar to Ackerman. “Ackerman reminds me of Clara because my hometown is small with a welcoming, close-knit community,” Kelly said. “And the local elementary school, where my mom is principal, places a value on every teacher and child just as we do here.” Growing up, Kelly learned about childcare firsthand, in particular, with her younger sister, a special needs individual. Kelly was inspired to become a teacher by witnessing her mom patiently assist Amanda, who is a non-verbal learner born with Rubinstein– Taybi syndrome. “Seeing everything that kids like Amanda and just children in general experience and endure as they struggle to succeed developmentally, socially, and academically is very hard. You just want to hug every student every day and see them all succeed,” she said. For her education, Kelly started at Jones Community College for her undergraduate courses. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership with a concentration in School Administration, both from Mississippi State University. Her first jobs were in West Point as third grade teacher at South Side Elementary and assistant principal at Fifth Street Junior High. The assistant principal position helped prepare Kelly for a move into administration, which she made in 2016 by becoming AES principal. “Administration is about finding the right people and letting them take the initiative and be responsible for their areas and classrooms,” Kelly said. “We are hands-on here, and Assistant Principal Terry Bellew and myself are still visible and engaged with all classrooms in the school.” As AES prepares for fall semester, an improvement parents and students can expect is that a previously built secondgrade wing is now enclosed with the main school building. “The second grade wing is no longer a stand alone structure. It is accessible through our main entrance because our district secured funding for its inclusion, and this should help with having all students in the best location,” Kelly said. Kelly is very content in her role as AES principal. Down the road, she anticipates a time when she, too, can be an involved parent. “Our entire staff is caring here, and our teachers put in long hours. I would encourage any children to come to school here,” Kelly said. Kelly and her husband Shane live in Ackerman. He’s an Ellisville native who currently works as a police office for the city of Starkville, where the couple lived following their marriage. Together, they have a one-year-old son, Bryce. “Parental involvement is an important aspect of CCSD and AES, and one-on-one communication is key for students, parents, and teachers,” Kelly said. “We host a lot of interactive activities and promote engagement yearlong.” For Open House in August, AES teachers will be waiting by their decorated doors to greet new and returning students. “We are asking our teachers to decorate their doors in a manner that reflects who they are as an introduction to their new students, and I can’t wait to see their creative personalities on display,” Kelly said. “I can’t imagine not being here since every year brings new excitement.”
