Central Middle School Principal Colleen Jones has been named the 2027 Middle School Principal of the Year by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals. GASSP Executive Director Alan Long paid a surprise visit to Central Middle on the first day of October, National Principals Month, to surprise Jones, the faculty and nearly 1,000 middle school students with the news.
The award is the culmination of a statewide search for school leaders who demonstrate excellence in educational leadership, problem-solving, professional development, and community engagement.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to be named the Georgia Middle School Principal of the Year,” Jones said. “While my name is on this award, this recognition truly belongs to the extraordinary teachers, dedicated staff, admin team, and incredible students of Central Middle School—it is their hard work, growth, and energy that drive everything we do.”
The Principal of the Year program recognizes outstanding middle and high school principals who have provided high-quality learning opportunities for students and made exemplary contributions to the profession. Jones’s selection followed a competitive statewide process that spotlighted school leaders demonstrating exceptional vision, impact, and innovation. Her ability to foster a thriving school culture and engage meaningfully with the broader community helped distinguish her among the finalists.
“I proudly accept this honor on behalf of our entire CMS family and the broader Carroll County community, including our board of education and district leadership. I am also immensely grateful to my fellow principal colleagues, whose daily dedication sharpens my own leadership, and to the mentors who have guided and invested in me throughout my career,” Jones said. “My leadership approach has been built and refined through every connection I’ve made — from my early roots serving the Bowdon community, to my time growing alongside the educators and families in Villa Rica, and now with my home here at Central.”
Superintendent Dr. Jessica Ainsworth, who was recognized by GASSP and the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 2015 as Assistant Principal of the Year, said Jones is a natural choice because of her student-centered approach to education.
“Mrs. Jones is a leader with a heart for students,” Ainsworth said. “When you visit her school, you can see that passion and care for students exhibited in everything she does as principal, and her enthusiasm and love for what she does is contagious to those of us who get to work with her. She pours everything she has into making connections and bringing others along with her.”
Jones has been principal of CMS since 2022 after serving in the same role at Ithica Elementary for five years. Both CMS and IES obtained national STEM certification from the National Institute for STEM Education under Jones’s leadership. While under her leadership, both schools have earned numerous awards.
Most recently CMS received national recognition from the Association of Middle Level Education as one of only 24 Schools of Distinction in the country and the only school in Georgia during 2025. She was awarded an Outstanding Educator Award by the Student Support Team Association for Georgia Educators this summer at the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders summer conference, and she recently presented at the SSTAGE Fall Conference in Macon.
“I could not do what I do without the love and support of my husband, Gordon, and our two boys, and our larger family support system,” Jones said. “It is a true privilege to represent Central Middle School and middle school educators across the state of Georgia, and I know my family makes sacrifices so that I can have the best job in the world. Middle school is a pivotal, transformative time for students, and I am continually inspired by the collaborative spirit of everyone who works tirelessly to help our young people succeed.”
As GASSP’s Middle School Principal of the Year, Jones will represent Georgia in competition for the National Principals Association (formerly NASSP) National Middle Level Principal of the Year.
GASSP is a professional organization dedicated to supporting middle and high school principals, assistant principals, and secondary education administrative leaders across Georgia through advocacy, professional learning, and leadership recognition.
Carroll County Schools serves over 16,000 pre-K through 12th-grade students in West Georgia. With a commitment to positively changing lives, the district prepares students to graduate enrolled, enlisted, or employed through innovative academic programs, 100 percent nationally STEM-certified schools, customized learning opportunities, and premier experiences in athletics and the fine arts. For more information, visit carrollcountyschools.com.
