Glencoe Middle School Assistant Principal Adrian Payne has been named the 2026-27 District 6 Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year by the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools, Etowah County Schools announced Oct. 7.
It is the second year in a row that an Etowah County Schools middle school assistant principal has won the district title.
Last year's winner went on to win statewide
Last year's District 6 winner was Clint Brannon of Sardis Middle School, according to a Nov. 11, 2025, release from the Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals, an affiliate of the council. The release said one district winner would be chosen as the state's Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year.
Brannon later received that title for 2025-26, the council announced. The state winner serves a term on the association's board of directors and is invited to apply for the national award, according to the council's award page.
Two schools, two 10-point report card gains
Sardis Middle and Glencoe Middle each gained 10 points on the state's 2024-25 report card, the Gadsden Messenger reported. Sardis Middle rose from 76 to 86 and Glencoe Middle from 78 to 88.
The awards and the report card are separate measures.
About Payne
Payne is a 2012 Glencoe High School graduate who began her career teaching and coaching at Glencoe Middle School in 2017, according to the school's website. Her degrees include a bachelor's in early childhood and elementary education and a master's in elementary education from Jacksonville State University, plus a master's in instructional leadership from the University of West Alabama.
In its announcement, Etowah County Schools praised Payne's leadership, dedication and commitment to students, teachers and the Glencoe Middle community.
What's next
Last year, the state winner was celebrated at a school event on Dec. 10, the Messenger reported. Etowah Wire could not find the association's 2026-27 list of district winners or a state announcement date.
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Sources and how we reported this: Etowah County Schools announcement, Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools releases, the school's website, and reporting from the Gadsden Messenger, checked Oct. 27, 2026.