School board okays new principal, five assistant principals
Madison, Madison County Record, News, Schools, Z - News Main
 By  John Few Published 
1:00 pm Wednesday, December 15, 2021

School board okays new principal, five assistant principals

MADISON – The new year will also bring leadership changes at several Madison Schools.

The Madison City Board of Education on Tuesday approved a new principal for Columbia Elementary and assistant principals for Columbia, Rainbow, Heritage, Madison and Horizon elementary schools.

Miranda Bolden with Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols and Assistant Superintendent Eric Terrell
New Columbia Elementary Principal Miranda Bolden, flanked by Assistant Supt. Eric Terrell and Supt. Dr. Ed Nichols.

The promotions are new for the position but not new to Madison City Schools. All come from within the district and are mostly transferring schools.

Mid-year retirements of several principals began the domino-like effect of changes.

In the special called meeting of the Board, Miranda Bolden was named principal of Columbia Elementary.

Bolden began her teaching at Columbia so has come full circle in becoming principal there. She comes from Assistant Principal at Rainbow Elementary where she had also been in the Madison Aspiring Administrators Program (MAAP) assigned to Rainbow.

Five assistant principals pictured with Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols and Assistant Superintendent Eric Terrell

Assistant principals (L-R) between Mr. Terrell and Dr. Nichols: Nedjra Russell, Kimberly Massey, Wendy Pharo, Kristen Kolenich, Tammy Jones

The following assistant principals were approved today by the Board:

Nedjra Russell, Rainbow Elementary – Russell was MAAP at Rainbow and taught before Tuesday’s promotion to RES assistant principal to replace Bolden.

Kimberly Massey, Columbia Elementary was selected to replace Laura Minor, who just retired. Massey is currently the MAAP at Columbia.

Kristen Kolenich, Heritage Elementary – She replaces Nathan Wilson, who recently was promoted to principal at Mill Creek Elementary. Kolenich is currently reading coach at Heritage.

Tammy Jones, Madison Elementary – Jones was assistant principal at Horizon and transfers to MES to replace Demetria Freeman, who was recently named principal at Horizon.

Wendy Pharo, Horizon Elementary. Pharo is elementary instruction specialist at the Central Office. She will fill the AP job left by Tammy Jones who is transferring to assistant principal at Madison Elementary. Pharo taught and was a reading coach at Heritage prior to moving to the district elementary instruction specialist position.

Also on The Madison Record
Strong secures evaluation of USPS processing center closure
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
By STAFF REPORTS 
January 15, 2026
WASHINGTON— Representative Dale Strong, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, has secured an evaluation of the United States Postal Service’...
Seth Parker returns home as new head football coach
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
“When I was five years old watching my dad coach at Bob Jones, in my heart I knew I wanted to do this.”
Bob Labbe 
January 14, 2026
MADISON - Seth Parker has returned to his roots. Returning to his high school alma mater, Parker was named the new head coach of the Bob Jones footbal...
Joe Kruzel named new Trash Pandas manager
Madison County Record, News, Sports, ...
By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com P3A 
January 14, 2026
MADISON – The Rocket City Trash Pandas, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Angels, announced this week that Joe Kruzel will serve as the club’s manag...
Bill Roark recognized for Lifetime Achievement service record by Business Alabama
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Gregg Parker 
January 14, 2026
MADISON – Bill Roark of Madison is among four distinguished Alabama businesspeople that the Business Alabama organization will recognize as Lifetime A...
The coolest experience at Huntsville Botanical Garden returns Jan. 23
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Staff Reports 
January 14, 2026
HUNTSVILLE – Fire & Ice is back! Start off the year with a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable winter gathering at Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG) as we th...
TARCOG describes Madison Senior Center as friendly, engaging locale
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Gregg Parker 
January 14, 2026
MADISON – The people at Madison Senior Center have found a positive, nurturing ‘home away from home,’ according to Top of Alabama Regional Council of ...
NASA’s historic test stands at Marshall Space Flight Center demolished
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
By STAFF REPORTS From NASA Marshall Space Flight Center 
January 14, 2026
HUNTSVILLE - NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville removed two of its historic test stands – the Propulsion and Structural Test Facility a...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *