Myra Frederick embraces retirement
When school resumed last week, a familiar face was missing from the halls of Belgreen. Principal Myra Frederick has retired.
After five years as principal – and a total 36 years in education – Frederick retired at the end of July and passed the torch to a new Belgreen leader.
The Phil Campbell native started out as a band director at Phil Campbell, where she graduated from high school, after earning her education degree at the University of North Alabama and teaching one year in Tennessee.
“I had some very good teachers and always enjoyed being around that atmosphere,” she said. “I felt the ‘call’ to be an educator.”
After seven years as band director and 10 years as guidance counselor at Phil Campbell, plus another 14 years as counselor at Hackleburg, Frederick said she was ready to expand.
“I had wanted to be a principal along the way, and I had had some job offers,” Frederick said. “But my family was first. My kids were still in school, and I thought it was really important to be with them.” When her youngest child graduated, the position at Belgreen became open – and Frederick welcomed the opportunity to return to Franklin County.
“I felt that I wanted to be able to help all areas – the faculty and the students,” she said. She had gotten a taste of being a helper as a school counselor. “I wanted to try and be that helper for all areas of the school.”
Frederick said being principal at Belgreen allowed her to be part of a wonderful community.
“I have made some wonderful friends here, and the family atmosphere of the faculty and staff is really something special. The people here support this school,” Frederick said. “We don’t have the benefits of being a city school. But we have a caring, supportive community that is the absolute best.”
The biggest challenge, Frederick said, was wearing many different hats and frequently shifting gears – an occupational hazard when one is the principal of a Pre-K through 12th grade school. But having so many students, and such a range, was by no means a negative.
“The students here – I can’t say enough about them. It’s a great student body,” Frederick said. “And we have a caring and talented staff. They have been great to work with.
“I have been so blessed to work with so many wonderful administrators, teachers and staff members in my 36 years,” Frederick added. “I would like to thank them all for allowing me the opportunity to work with them. I would also like to thank my family for being supportive of my career for all these years.”
In retirement, Frederick said she hopes to spend more time with her family, including Tim, her husband of 35 years, and their three children: Katie Garrison and husband Chad, with their daughter Marcy, 3; Kasie Brown and husband Seth; and Clint Frederick and wife Candace.
