The Covington County Board of Education has named Donny Powell principal of Straughn High School.

“I was pleased with the number and quality of applicants we had,” Superintendent Shannon Driver said. “With his experience as a principal and in the central office, he is an excellent candidate, and I now he’ll do an outstanding job at Straughn High School.”

Powell currently works in the central office, where he manages federal programs, personnel and career tech. Previously, he served as principal of Florala High School and as an assistant principal at Straughn. He began his education career as a science and physical education teacher.

The SHS graduate said, “This is exciting, and it’s always nice to go back home. It’s great to be able to go back home.”

Powell said he’s looking forward to being back in a school setting and working with students every day.

“I just loved being a teacher,” he said. “I’m looking forward to being out and involved with students again. That’s the most rewarding thing – making a difference in their lives.”

Powell said he believes academics should come first and foremost.

“As a teacher and a principal, I believed my students could match up against any students in the world, he said. “I wanted my students to know they didn’t have to take a backseat to anybody. If you get the academics, everything else will come in place.”

But he said it’s also important for educators to let students know that they care, and to prepare them for whatever future is before them.

“It’s important to prepare them for college, but it’s also important to prepare them for life,” he said. “You might not go to a four-year college. We need to instill in them the values that they can become productive citizens, like good work ethics, and showing up to work on time.”

Powell said he is looking forward to working with the staff at SHS.

Current principal John Evers’s official retirement will be June 30. Until then, Powell said, he’ll be back and forth between the central office and working with Evers on the transition.

“The first thing is, I want to meet with Mr. Evers, and sit down and talk with him,” Powell said. “My goal is to continue making sure SES is the best school it can be.”

Powell earned a bachelor’s degree from Troy University and a master’s in educational leadership from Troy University-Dothan. His favorite hobbies are freshwater fishing and quail hunting.

“I like to just float down the river bream fishing,” he said.

He also gardens, and typically grows watermelon, cantaloupe, peas, squash, peppers and tomatoes.