Desaree Jackson, principal of Calera Middle School, is one of three middle school principals who have been selected as finalists for the Alabama Middle School Principal of the Year award.

Jackson was selected as District V Middle School Principal of the Year last month. She was interviewed by the selection committee at the 2022 Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) and Alabama Association of Middle School Principals (AAMSP) Fall Conference on November 8 for consideration for the state Principal of the Year award.

Jackson is the third middle school principal from Shelby County to be named the District V winner and a finalist for the state award. Former Chelsea Middle School principal, Caroline Obert, won the award in 2020 followed by Oak Mountain Middle School principal, Dr. Larry Haynes, in 2021. Both Haynes and Obert went on to win the state Principal of the Year recognition.

The other two finalists for the state award are Tony Bonds, principal of Russellville Middle School, and Kyle Pinckard, principal of Boaz Middle School.