The Alexander City Outlook

City’s first female African American principal still working for the kids

Dr. Beverly Price’s life has taken her all over Tallapoosa County and into the history books.

Price, a 1984 graduate of Dadeville High School, became the first female African American principal in the Alexander City School System when she took over at Radney Elementary School in 2007.

“It means a lot, not just because of my race or that I’m female, but it means a lot to be first in anything,” Price said. “I want to set a high standard for those who come after me. It’s not something I take lightly.”

After graduating from DHS, Price started at Auburn University before finishing a degree in human resources management at Faulkner University.

Price later went to Auburn University Montgomery to get a master’s degree in elementary education and educational leadership to follow her passion.

“I always wanted to teach,” Price said. “I love children and I wanted to impact their future.”

Price also received an education specialist degree from AUM before completing her doctorate in educational leadership in 2008.

Price started her career as a kindergarten teacher in 1999 at Horseshoe Bend School. She worked there for three years until 2002 when she made the jump to assistant principal at Radney in 2003.

“In the classroom you have influence on a small group of students, but I wanted to have an impact on a larger group,” Price said. “I want to be a positive role model for all young girls and boys in this school system. While there are positive role models, there are not nearly enough. I started where a lot of these students are now and I want them to know that no matter how dim the circumstances, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and if work hard you can reach it.”

Price said she and her husband, Richard Price, love living in the county.

“We both love Alexander City,” Price said. “We wanted to be close to family.”