At the May 23 Troy City Schools Board of Education meeting, the school board approved the hiring of new Tory Elementary School Principal Kristi Lewis, someone very familiar with the school. 

Lewis previously taught at Troy Elementary for 16 years as a special education teacher, first grade teacher and reading and instructional coach. She grew up in the Shellhorn area outside of Troy and graduated from Goshen High School before earning her Bachelors and Master’s Degree from Troy University along with her Instructional Leadership Certification from the University of West Alabama. 

“When I was in college, I was kind of not really sure what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted to go into a career of service,” Lewis said of her decision to become a teacher. “I also had a desire to impact students and the desire for education. When I was younger in school, I had some teachers that were really great teachers that had such an impact on my life. I also had some teachers that weren’t really that kind of teacher and they also had an impact, as well.” 

Lewis started her career as a teacher in Montgomery County before coming to Troy City Schools. After nearly two decades with the school system, she joined the Alabama Department of Education to work with the Alabama Reading Initiative as a regional literacy specialist for the past five years. Now, she says she’s coming home.

“It’s home,” Lewis said of Troy Elementary. “I think our school system has some really great things going on. With Mrs. (Teresa) Sims leaving, it’s one of those bitter sweet things because she has been what we’ve known as our leader for so long. Just thinking about who’s going to come in and be able to be a great leader for our school like she was, not only an instructional leader but someone who feels like this is home and is committed to the community and keeping all the great things alive. I think it was just time for me to come back.” 

Troy City Schools Superintendent Cynthia Thomas was proud of the hiring of Lewis and new Charles Henderson Middle School Principal Nicholas Townsend. 

“They both bring years of educational experience and with building strong relationships with school communities,” Thomas said. “We are confident that they both will be strong advocates for our students, staff and families, and will continue to uphold the high standards and values of our district.”

Lewis’ passion for reading is also bolstered in her home life, as she is the wife of Jerrick Lewis. Jerrick Lewis is the nephew of Troy native, Civil Rights leader and former U.S. Congressman John Lewis. Jerrick Lewis is also one of the founders of the John R. Lewis Legacy Institute. 

“The institute has different pillars and one of them is education,” Kristi Lewis said. “I’m able to help my husband with that part of their initiative, which is important to me.”

Kristi Lewis is stepping into the position held by Sims, a longtime leader at TES and one she says she’s proud to follow behind.

“I definitely know I have some big shoes to fill,” she said. “Mrs. Sims – and those that came before her – are people I look up to. It’s really an honor to be selected as the person who gets to come in behind her and I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of encouragement and support. That makes me feel good going into the school but also knowing that I have big shoes to fill.”

Kristi Lewis said that she’s focusing on continuing to grow the success that TES has seen in recent years.

“Mrs. Sims and I have talked a lot about how when COVID hit we all went home and that’s when I left the building, too,” she said. “It took a little bit of time to really get our school back in a place where everyone feels safe after COVID, to get things back on the right track as far as instruction goes. 

“She and I feel like we’re in a place right now where we’ve had time to get past that and time to get things back on the right track. We feel like our data is trending in the right direction and seeing student success that we want to see. My goal is to come in and multiply that excellence.”