Rainey Named New Principal At Northridge Middle School

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa City Schools on Wednesday announced that James Rainey, Jr. has been hired as the next principal at Northridge Middle School.

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The hire, which comes after the retirement of NMS Principal Carter Hill earlier this year, was approved on Wednesday by the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education. Rainey's first day on the job will be June 1.

Rainey is a Moundville native and currently the principal of Carbon Hill Elementary and Carbon Hill Junior High School in Walker County. He also worked as assistant principal at Carbon Hill High School for four years and served for 13 years as band director at Winfield High School and Winfield Middle School.

“I’m excited at the opportunity to lead Northridge Middle School,” he said. “I know it’s had success in its short tenure, and I want to help continue to that success moving forward. I think it’s a great chance to be a part of a great school and a great community.”

Rainey attended The University of Alabama for his bachelors degree in education and also holds a master’s degree in education, an educational specialist degree and an educational doctorate, all from The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“I grew up in Moundville and went to UA, so I’m excited to move back to Tuscaloosa, and thrilled to be getting back close to home,” Rainey said.

Rainey said his first priority is to get to know the people he will be working with, in addition to the students and their families.

“Initially I just want to get to know everyone, and become part of the school community,” he said. “It’s important to build on the strengths that already exist and determine ways that we can move forward.”

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