Clinton Carter, a Troy University alumnus and longtime educator and administrator in Montgomery Public Schools, and Dr. Terry Jenkins, former Superintendent of Auburn City Schools who has more than 50 years of experience in the field of education, were inducted into the Alabama Educational Leadership Hall of Fame at Troy University on Friday.

Established in 1982, the Hall of Fame is a cooperative effort of Troy University, the Alabama Association of School Boards and the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools to recognize and honor the achievements of outstanding leaders in education within the state. The first induction ceremony was held in April 1984. Portraits of inductees are displayed in Hawkins Hall, home to Troy University’s College of Education.

Dr. Fred Figliano, Interim Dean of TROY’s College of Education, served as emcee for Friday’s event, and Dr. Eric Mackey, Alabama State Superintendent of Education, provided a brief history of the Hall of Fame, setting the stage for welcoming the new inductees.

“Troy University started the Educational Leadership Hall of Fame for people who have committed a lifetime of leadership to education in Alabama,” Dr. Mackey said. “Mr. Carter and Dr. Jenkins, you are joining an esteemed group today, but, more importantly, you are making the group even more esteemed because both of you bring so much to this honor.”

Carter was introduced during Friday’s ceremony by Dr. Kerry Palmer, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Carter served as a teacher and administrator in the Montgomery Public School System for 49 years, including stints as a teacher at Capitol Heights and Goodwyn junior high schools. He served as Principal of Catoma Elementary School and later served the roles of Assistant Principal and Principal at Robert E. Lee High School.

After 10 years as Principal at Lee, Carter transitioned to leadership roles in the system’s central office, first serving as Assistant Superintendent from 1981-1986 and then Associate Superintendent from 1986-1994. Carter served as a consultant to the superintendent from 1994-1998 before becoming Superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools, a role he held from 1998 to 2004.

In 2000, the Alabama Association of PTAs selected Carter as the State Superintendent of the Year. Carter’s professional involved included service as President of the Montgomery Teachers Association, the Montgomery Education Association and the Montgomery Principals Association. He served as the Assistant Editor for the bulletin of the Alabama Association of Secondary Principals and as a member of the publications committee for the National Association of Secondary School Principals. He also was a member of the Advisory Board for Troy University’s Montgomery Campus.

In 1995, Carter was inducted into the Robert E. Lee High School Hall of Fame, and, in 2009, the school created the “Five Star Generals Award for Excellence in the Performance of Duty” in his honor.

While at Troy University, Carter majored in English and Social Studies, receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1956, and later earned a master’s degree in school administration from Auburn University. At TROY, he served as Vice President of the Student Government Association and President of the men’s residence hall. He was a member of the TROY band, a student assistant to the English Department head, and was an SGA Senator. He was conferred an honorary doctorate degree by Huntingdon College in Montgomery in 2002.

“Being inducted into the Educational Leadership Hall of Fame means the world to me,” Carter said. “I am very humbled by this honor and recognition.”

Dr. Jenkins was introduced during the ceremony by Auburn City Schools Superintendent Dr. Cristen Herring, who was a teacher in the system when Jenkins began his tenure as superintendent.

Jenkins began his more than 50-year public education career in 1969. While serving as a teacher and a coach, Dr. Jenkins’ leadership potential was quickly recognized, leading to his first appointment as Principal in 1974. He served in leadership roles in both the elementary and secondary school settings before becoming Superintendent of the West Point (GA) City School District in 1979, a position he held until 1986. From there, Dr. Jenkins went on to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Floyd County (Ga) Schools and Troup County (GA) Schools before his appointment in 2000 as Superintendent of Auburn City Schools.

In 1998, Jenkins was awarded the Georgia Outstanding Educator Award by the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, and he was named the Georgia Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators and the School Board Association. In 2000, he was awarded the Georgia Distinguished Service Award. In 2005, he was Alabama’s Superintendent of the Year.

Jenkins served the students, staff, families and Auburn community as Superintendent from 2000-2012 before retiring to become a consultant for the Alabama Association of School Boards. In that role, he provided orientation and training sessions and conducted numerous Superintendent searches for Alabama school districts.

In 2016, the Auburn City Council appointed Jenkins to serve as a member of the Auburn City Schools Board of Education, a position he held through December 2022.

Jenkins said his selection for the Hall of Fame came as a big surprise to him.

“It is very special when you are not expecting something,” Dr. Jenkins said. “It is tremendously humbling and very much appreciated, to say the least.”

Additional photos are available for viewing at https://troyuniversity.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000vsbqlsHvGT8/G00006sjLD.phsF4/20230901-Alabama-Education-Leadership-Hall-of-Fame-Induction.