After nearly four decades in education, Troy Elementary School Principal Teresa Sims will be retiring at the end of this school year. 

Sims was born in Abbeville but grew up in Bonifay, Fla., wanting to be a Florida Gator. That all changed when she came to Troy, Ala., for a band camp in high school.

“I came to Troy in the ninth grade to attend band camp and I just fell in love with it,” she remembered. “I thought, ‘This is where I want to be, this is where I want to go to school.’ I came back my senior year (in high school) to apply for a scholarship and had two jobs before I even left.

“Legendary (Troy) Director of Bands Dr. Johnny Long told me that I could do anything I worked hard enough to do and I believed him. He also told all of his students that the greatest word in the English language next to ‘mother’ was ‘teacher.’ I believed that and still do.” 

Sims said she wanted to be a part of the South of the South Band from the moment she stepped foot on campus at Troy (State) University as a ninth grader and not only did she do that, but she went on to become the band’s first female assistant drum major. 

Sims graduated from Troy with a Master of Science in Education and interned at Charles Henderson Middle School and Charles Henderson High School in 1986. Sims also received her Education Administrative Certification from Auburn University at Montgomery. Her first professional job was the Director of Bands at St. James High School in Montgomery in 1987. 

“I accepted a job at Saint James and then (Troy City Schools) asked me to come back midyear and wanted me to start in December,” Sims said. “My kids at Saint James had their Christmas Concert to do, so I couldn’t leave them. I taught school here until lunch and then drove to Montgomery and rehearsed the high school band at Saint James. So, for a month I taught at both Charles Henderson and Saint James.”

Sims was the Director of Bands at Charles Henderson Middle School and Assistant Director at Charles Henderson High School from 1987 until moving over to Troy Elementary School as a teacher in 1998. 

After eight years at TES, Sims began her administrative career as assistant principal at Pike County Elementary School in 2006 but returned right back to Troy City Schools as the assistant principal at TES in 2007. After six years as the assistant principal, Sims was promoted to principal in 2013, in a position she’s served ever since. 

After beginning kindergarten in 1970, Sims said she’s finally “graduating” after spending her entire life in education since that moment.

“I loved school as a child,” Sims said. “I absolutely loved it. I loved to read, I loved science and I loved my teachers. I had a great school experience growing up and I just loved school and always wanted to be a teacher. It just came natural for me.” 

In her 39 years as an educator, 37 of those have been spent in Troy City Schools. 

“It has been my great privilege and joy to be a teacher, that’s what I always consider myself,” Sims said. “I dearly love my school and this community. We have amazing students and so many wonderful, dedicated educators who pour into them each and every day. Our teachers and staff members are true superheroes who pretty much make all other professions possible.

“I’ve been blessed to see so many former TCS students go on and do great things in our community and throughout the world. I love to look at a kindergarten classroom and imagine them as community leaders, nurses, doctors, teachers or whatever they choose to become. It’s our job as educators, families and the community as a whole, to give them the tools and encourage them to do so.”

Sims said that the support she’s received during her career is hard to put into words.

“I am so thankful for the support, counsel and encouragement from so many colleagues and mentors throughout my career,” she said. “The list is long. I am also very appreciative of our superintendent, Mrs. (Cynthia) Thomas and the Troy City Board of Education for their support.

“I really must say thank you to the many students I’ve taught over the years – they have blessed my life tremendously and taught me so much. I am also thankful for the support of so many parents who trust us with their precious people.” 

Sims and her husband, Tim Sims, have been married going on 39 years and the couple has two daughters and six grandchildren. 

“Tim Sims is the best husband, Papa, insurance man, musician and part-time Santa ever,” said Sims of her husband. “We are blessed with two wonderful daughters and six perfect grandchildren.”

Sims said that she knew it was time to move on because if she didn’t do it now, she may not be able to ever do it.

“I knew if I waited until I wanted to go, they would probably have to roll me out of here,” she said with a smile. “I love what I do here every day. I get up every morning wanting to go to school. I don’t get up and say, ‘I’m going to work,’ I’m going to school. That’s a blessing. I’m just at a point in my life where I need a little bit of flexibility.”

While she’s heading into retirement, Sims doesn’t plan to just sit around, however.

“Well, I won’t be sitting in a rocking chair unless it’s to rock a grandbaby now and then,” Sims said of retirement. “There are many options and opportunities to continue to serve in education and in our community. I need two or three weeks off first, though. Then, I’m looking forward to spending time with family, cheering on our Troy Trojans and keeping busy with life.”