From The Tribune staff reports
CENTER POINT — Center Point High School’s principal, announced his retirement.
Van A. Phillips, Sr. is an awarding-winning principal who began his career in education as an English and science teacher at Erwin High School within the Jefferson County school system in 1983.
The following year, he joined Fairfield High School as its varsity wrestling head coach, varsity track and field head coach, and varsity football assistant coach. Adding to his leadership responsibilities, Phillips became the school’s sponsor for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Under the mentorship of Fairfield’s principal and coach, Charles McGhee, Phillips began to grow into the educator he is today.
In 1987, his professional development at Fairfield was rewarded as he was named assistant principal and interim head coach of the varsity football team.
Phillips’ leadership growth at Fairfield resulted in his promotion to interim principal at Fairfield High School from December 1990 to May 1991.
The following school year, he accepted a 12-month school term assistant principal position at Hueytown High school under the leadership of Ms. B. Kaye Reach. During his interview for the role, Superintendent Dr. Bruce Wright said to Phillips, “If you are half as good as she says you are, you will be a principal in two years.”
Wright’s insight held true as Phillips was named principal of Minor Jr. High School in July 1994.
Phillips’ leadership at Minor proved invaluable to the school and local community as he supported students, parents, faculty, staff, and community members during the aftermath of the April 1998 tornado.
Recognized as a motivator of young students, Phillips was named Principal of Minor High School in July 1998. While at Minor, he led the development of innovative programs that are now utilized throughout the state of Alabama and the Southeast region.
In October 2004, Superintendent Dr. Phil Hammond presented Phillips with a unique challenge—leading two high schools at once. Due to the unrest, low graduation rate, high dropout rate, and violence occurring at Erwin High School, Hammond needed a transformational leader who would fearlessly rise to the challenge of getting the school back on solid footing.
Within months, Phillips established processes and procedures that helped Erwin High School improve areas that needed significant attention.
In January 2005, he returned to his role as principal at Minor High School. However, his stay would be short, as Hammond asked Phillips to return to Erwin High School in April 2005 to continue carrying out the measures he put into place for the school.
This bold move by Hammond resulted in two high school communities vying for Phillips’ inspirational leadership. Appearing on the local evening news, the mayor of Center Point stated, “Minor wants him, but we need him,” he added, “We want to have a new high school in Center Point.”
Over the next five years at Erwin, under Phillips’ leadership, the graduation rate rose from 49 percent to 87 percent, the dropout rate lowered from 25 percent to 6 percent, senior scholarship awards rose from $380,000 to over $4 million, and enrollment increased from 880 to 1,300 students. Additionally, along this journey, Erwin High School became Center Point High School.
In August 2011, the City of Center Point went from having the second oldest high school building in Jefferson County to a brand new, $50 million facility built to serve students and the surrounding community.
Throughout his career in education, Phillips has overseen the incremental rise in standardized test scores and decrease in student discipline. He has championed the addition of academic, athletic, career, fine arts, and technology programs to ensure all students are positioned for success.
At Center Point, everybody is somebody. It was a difficult decision to submit his retirement papers, but Phillips is excited to embark on the next stage of his life.
When asked to list his proudest moments from his nearly 40 years of working to shape the minds and lives of young people, he shared:
- My relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
- The unwavering love and support of my wife of over 34 years, Mrs. Pamela Phillips, children, Van, Jr. and Morganne, grandchildren, Savannah, Van III, and Macee, and extended family.
- The unquestioned support of each community and city I have honorably served.
- The support of the best faculty and staff that any principal could ever ask for.
- And finally, but certainly not least, the tens of thousands of students that I came into contact with over my years. The students are the reason why I worked in education for nearly 40 years.
Philips won many awards for his exemplary work in education and the community:
- 2005 – Educator of the Year – Phi Delta Kappa
- 2005 – Principal of the Year – Alpha Kappa Alpha
- 2016 – Named Pastor of Holy Trinity World Outreach Ministry
- 2017 -Alabama High School and Secondary Principal of the Year (first and only recipient in JEFCOED history)
- 2018 – Alabama Top 50 over 50
- 20– Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Keeper Honoree
- President and Board member Vacca Advisory Board
- Member of Alabama Department of Youth Services
- Board Member/Executive Committee Member of CLAS
- Board Member of AASSP
- Board Member and President of AHSAA Central Board of Control