Matt Scott has been appointed as the new principal of South Lincoln School, succeeding Jennifer Turpen. Scott will officially begin his tenure on July 1, 2024.
Matt Scott currently serves as the Principal of East Limestone High School in Athens, Alabama. East Limestone is a (6-12) school with over 1275 students, classified as a 5A High School in Alabama. Prior to his tenure at East Limestone, Matt held the position of Principal at Creekside Primary/Elementary, feeder schools for East Limestone, for an impressive 18 years. Creekside (PreK-5) enrollment was a around 1100 students.
With a distinguished career spanning 28 years in education, Matt has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership and an unwavering dedication to academic excellence. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Education from The University of Alabama in 1995, followed by a Master of Education in Administration from Middle Tennessee State University in 1999.
Under Matt's leadership, both East and Creekside have been recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools, with Creekside consistently earning an "A" Report Card in Alabama over several years.
Matt is actively engaged in the professional education community, both locally and nationally. He has been a longstanding member of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS) and the National Association of Elementary Principals (NAESP) for the past 20 years. Matt's leadership roles include serving as the Alabama Elementary District 1 President, Vice President, and District Representative. He represented Alabama elementary principals on a national level for 3 years and has contributed significantly to the state board for elementary principals.
In 2015, Matt achieved his National Principal Mentor certification through NAESP. He serves as a writer/editor for "Principal" magazine and is a frequent presenter at both the NAESP national conference and the state principal’s conference.
Matt's dedication to educational excellence has been recognized with numerous accolades, including being selected as the 2019 National Distinguished Principal for District 1 in Alabama and a top 3 finalist for the state. In 2022, he was honored with the Alabama Elementary Principal CLAS Leadership Award and completed his NAESP PreK-3 Leadership Academy certificate.
Before assuming the role of Principal, Matt held various positions in education, including teacher, coach, and assistant principal at elementary, middle school, and high school. He has also served as a college adjunct professor.
Matt is deeply grateful for the opportunity to positively impact students' lives every day. He believes that teaching is not just a job but a calling, and he cherishes the opportunity to make a difference in students' futures.
Matt resides in Huntsville with his wife, Ashley Scott, and their two children: Spencer (21), a Junior at The University of Alabama, and Sydney (18), a Senior at Huntsville High School. Sydney will be attending The University of Alabama in the fall. Ashley serves as the weekday PreK director at their church.
Dr. Bill Heath stated, "we are thrilled to welcome Matt Scott as the next principal of South Lincoln School. Matt's extensive experience, exceptional leadership, and unwavering dedication to student success make him the perfect fit for this role. I have every confidence that under Matt's guidance, South Lincoln School will continue to thrive and provide an outstanding educational experience for all students. On behalf of the entire school district, I extend our warmest congratulations and look forward to working closely with Matt to ensure continued success for our students and community."
Dr. Heath also stated, "we extend our deepest gratitude to Jennifer Turpen for her outstanding leadership as principal of South Lincoln School. Jennifer's dedication, passion, and commitment to student success have made a lasting impact on our school community. While she will be stepping down from her role as principal, we are thrilled that Jennifer is willing to serve the school community in new ways. Her expertise and dedication will undoubtedly enrich our educational programs and further support our students' growth and achievement. We thank Jennifer for her tireless dedication and contributions to our district."
