Corey Kelly is ready for the challenge of his first assistant principal position. He will fill that role at Choctaw County High School this academic year.
Kelly also will direct the Alternative School and primarily handle any technology challenges CCHS may face on a daily basis. He patiently waited for an opportunity to become an assistant principal, and he is poised to grow with the new CCHS administration.
“I grew up wanting to lead a life of service, and it is a blessing to be able to begin this new phase of my professional career as assistant principal here,” Kelly said. “As a coach, I was impacting some 30 to 50 students every day, but as an assistant principal I feel I can have an even greater impact on more students and on their education.”
Kelly grew up in the Mississippi town of Lake and was born into a family of three generations of educators. He decided early in life he would follow that same path with his own career.
“I have a passion and enthusiasm for education,” Kelly said. “I feel like I can bring fresh ideas and truly invigorate Choctaw County High School and receive much gratification in return.”
Kelly believes as assistant principal, he can be approachable and help students find ways to improve in academics and behavior rather than have them simply see him as a disciplinarian.
He seeks to help foster a professional learning community at the school and collaborate with other teachers and administrators to help students reach their highest potential.
“I want to find ways for students to achieve and reach their goals and point them toward careers that will lead them to better lives,” he said. “For many of them, I know a great education is the ticket to actually have fulfilling lives whether they attend technical schools or two or four-year colleges after CCHS.”
Kelly has spent eight years in the education field. He began his career with the Newton Municipal School District, working two years as an assistant football and strength coach and a seventh-grade English teacher. He followed that with six years as an English instructor at Meridian Community College. He comes to CCHS after a yearlong stint as an assistant football (linebackers coach) and English teacher at Northeast Lauderdale High School in Meridian.
For his education, Kelly attended East Central Community College prior to enrolling at Mississippi State University. From MSU, he holds a bachelor’s degree in multi-interdisciplinary studies, a master’s degree in teaching in community college education, and an educational specialist in two disciplines — educational leadership and administration and secondary school administration/principalship.
He and his wife, Jamie Kelly, make their home in Ackerman. She is from the Covington – Mandeville area of Louisiana. They met at East Central Community College and have been married for 12 years. She will be joining her husband at CCHS, teaching art for ages middle school and up this academic year.
The Kellys are excited to be in Ackerman and look forward to becoming part of the community.
