MADISON – Madison Board of Education has named Eric Terrell as Assistant Superintendent of Operations for Madison City Schools.

The board approved Terrell’s appointment at its Feb. 1 meeting. “Mr. Terrell gives his all for the district — no matter what school or position he serves in,” Superintendent Robby Parker said.

Terrell most recently served as principal of Discovery Middle School for the past two years. He returned to Discovery after teaching, coaching and handling administrative duties at Madison’s four secondary schools.

In his first teaching assignment, he taught special education classes and coached at Discovery. Then at Liberty Middle School, Terrell was head football and basketball coach and a special education teacher.

He then worked at Bob Jones High School as a special education teacher, head ninth-grade football coach and assistant head coach for varsity football. He was promoted to assistant principal.

Terrell assisted with opening James Clemens High School. He then served at the new school as an assistant principal and athletic director.

In a 2016 interview with “Madison Living” magazine, Terrell said he believes Alabama’s major needs in education are funding and reversing a negative perception of public education. That perception and the funding challenges have caused a decline in students pursuing education degrees.

“The perception that the profession of education is unattractive has to be changed,” Terrell said. “Students need a strong bond between family, school and community, as well as skilled teachers who hold high expectations. Teachers need tools and professional development to personalize learning in the classroom and the support to continuously improve their practice.”

Terrell grew up in Hamilton, Ala. He earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education at Alabama A&M University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Grand Canyon University.

He and his wife LaTerra have two daughters: eight-year-old Kelsey, a second-grader at Horizon Elementary School, and five-year-old Kylee, who attends pre-kindergarten.

A Huntsville native, LaTerra Terrell works for a federal information technology contractor. The Terrells attend New Life Christian Praise and Worship Center in Huntsville.

When he has free time, Terrell works on computers and watches movies. “My family loves game night and traveling,” he said.