Principal's Message

My name is Amy May Elam. I was born and raised in Selma, AL.  After graduating from Judson College with a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education, I obtained a Masters in Elementary Education and Instructional Leadership, from The University of West Alabama. In 2020, I obtained my Doctoral degree in Instructional Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University. My educational career began as a fifth-grade teacher in the Dallas County Schools at Valley Grande Elementary School. In 2012 my husband and I along with our two sons, Mayson and Manning moved to Tuscaloosa.  I began with the Tuscaloosa City Schools as a Literacy Specialist at Paul W. Bryant High School.  The following year I was the Assistant Principal at Verner Elementary and Rock Quarry Elementary.  In the fall of 2014, I was selected as the Principal of Arcadia Elementary School and after serving Arcadia for six years I was selected as the Principal of Verner Elementary in June 2020. I love the Verner community and I believe in partnering and participating in all things Northridge Middle School and Northridge High School!  We are a Jaguar community and I will foster those relationships and serve this community daily! Serving the students of Verner is one of my greatest blessings!

The initiatives of Verner Elementary are in conjunction with the Tuscaloosa City Schools Strategic Plan. The processes and policies we’ve established are leading to positive student outcomes, and our highly-qualified teachers will continue to deliver personalized, engaging and rigorous instruction to every student, every day. Our teachers and I will work daily to ensure our students are receiving a top-notch education that encompasses all a student needs to be successful in an inclusive learning environment.  We are dedicated to moving the needle of excellence at Verner through social, emotional and academic growth!

Social-emotional learning and student well-being will continue to be an integral part of our daily instruction. We strive to create a holistic and inclusive educational experience, and foster a school culture of self-growth, respect, and kindness. School safety is another top priority at The V, and we take this seriously. We have a full-time SRO (police officer) on campus and the entire staff regularly reviews and practices safety protocols and drills.

We want parents and the community to be a part of our school. Join our PTA, volunteer in the library or the front desk, visit your child at lunch, conference with their teacher, join us for school-wide events for the entire family. As your principal, I promise to you that I will do everything I can to ensure that Verner is a partner for all stakeholders. Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or concerns. Your participation, input, and feedback are always welcome.  

Yours truly,  

Dr. Amy Elam, Principal
Verner Elementary School