“I’m excited and ready to get going,” said Dr. Robbie Smith as she looked ahead to her new role as principal of Hartselle’s newly formed 7-8 junior high school.

Dr. Robbie Smith

Smith assumed the position Mon., Aug. 5, after completing a two-year stint as principal of Discovery Middle School in Madison. Previously, she served as assistant principal and principal at Heritage Elementary School in Madison.

Smith’s education career spans 20 years. She taught biology and coached basketball at Arab High School, her alma mater, and served as counselor and coached basketball at Danville High School.

A resident of Hartselle, Smith said she was watching and waiting for a principal’s position to come open in Hartselle when Don Pouncey opted to retire instead of transferring to the new junior high school.

“This is a school system where administrative jobs don’t come open often,” Smith stated.

“When the opportunity came, we felt like we needed to get closer to home.”

Smith’s husband Mike is a quality engineer/manager with PCE Paragon in Huntsville.

They have been married 17 years, have a daughter, Maggie, a sixth grader at Hartselle Intermediate School, and reside on Cindy Street in Hartselle.

“I’m fortunate to know a couple of the teachers who will be working at the new junior high,” Smith said, “and I look forward to getting to know and work with the entire staff.

“I like a big family with every member working together in harmony. With more space and a new school, we are in a unique situation. We have an opportunity to make a new footprint for education and shine brightly as we move together on the same path to excellence.”

A native of Arab, Smith holds a B.S degree in biology/English, an M.S., degree in secondary education and a Master’s Certificate in administration from Jacksonville State University.

She also has a Master’s Certificate in school Counseling from Alabama A&M University and a doctorate in education leadership from the University of Phoenix.