Local principal appointed to board by governor

DOUBLE SPRINGS - Being a principal is more than just a job for some. It is a lifelong ambition of care for students, faculty, staff and even other principals. Winston County High School’s principal, Jeff Cole, has been a pillar for those who have passed through the front doors of the school since he became principal Dec. 16, 2003.
From 2003 until now, he has become the second longest serving principal in the school’s history, behind Jack Herron who was principal 18 years.
Cole has gone beyond just being a principal however. He has been chosen to be on the principal position of the Board of Control to the Teachers’ Retirement System in Montgomery, part of the Retirement Systems of Alabama. The Board of Control is made up of 15 individuals throughout the State of Alabama and is responsible for management and administration of the retirement system. He will serve on the board until June 30, 2021.
“I’m a member of CLAS, Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools,” Cole stated about how he came to be chosen on the board. He said CLAS is an organization with branches for principals, superintendents, lunchroom workers, special education, attendance and others. “I am in the Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals, and I’ve been in it ever since I’ve been a principal of this district,” he said. “Through them, I have a couple of times served as president on the CLAS board. The executive director of CLAS today is Vic Wilson, who graduated in 1988 at Meek High School. Through AASSP in CLAS I became real good friends with a gentleman who retired last year. When he retired, he was on this RSA PEEHIP board (Public Education Employees’ Health Insurance Plan). They asked him for a recommendation for who he wanted to be replaced on the board by.” Cole’s name was submitted.
“I was very honored he did that,” Cole said. “I didn’t expect it because Governor (Kay Ivey) has to appoint it. I got a phone call in November and was asked if I had been notified by the governor’s office. When I said no, I was informed the governor had appointed me to the PEEHIP board.”