DEMOPOLIS-A local elementary school principal reached the highest point of his educational journey when he received his doctorate from a university in Birmingham. He has seen his title change from coach to principal, and now finally to doctor.

Tony Speegle, principal of U.S. Jones Elementary School has been an educator for many years now and he has amassed an impressive collection of diplomas from various colleges and universities, but the most special one of all is the one from Samford University in Birmingham. He has a BS, a MED (Masters), an EDS from Montevallo and now an EDD from Samford.

“I received an EDD, which is in Educational Administrative Leadership from Samford,” Speegle said.

He said, when asked why he wanted this degree, he said it was something that he felt led to do and he also had plenty of encouragement from his professors and family. He also said he would like to thank Alvin Morrison for his guidance along the three years it took to achieve this goal.

“We sat down and talked as a family about me going back to school and my wife and children were very supportive of me,” Speegle said.

He said he has enjoyed his six years as the principal at Jones and he really thinks the children and the staff at Jones are great. He also said he would like to thank the Superintendent of Demopolis City School System Dr. Wesley Hill for allowing him time to complete this achievement.

“This doctorate took me over three years to achieve and I’m very thankful to everyone that helped me along the way,” Speegle said.

He said the Doctorate Program at Samford University was one of the best experiences he has had in his many years of teaching. He said he was grateful to the teachers at the school including Dr. Persall and the others.

“I was in a group that was the second one to go through the program at Samford,” Speegle said.