Administration

Meet Our Principal

Dr. Warren Lewis

Dr. Warren Lewis

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Greetings Hemphill Family!

I am Dr. Warren Lewis, the newly appointed principal of Hemphill Elementary School.  Let me first say that I am extremely excited to be a part of the Hemphill family and that I am fortunate to have been selected for this role.  I believe that people are placed in spaces where they belong, and I consider myself blessed and highly favored to belong to a special place like Hemphill.  I eagerly look forward to developing a strong alliance with the Hemphill faculty, staff, students, and parents.  I am also incredibly enthusiastic about establishing solid relationships with Hemphill community and business partners.  I am thrilled about our bright future!  

I have been in the educational arena for 14 years and I have served each of those years in the Birmingham City School district.  I am a very proud product of Birmingham City Schools, as I am a graduate of Ensley High School.  As an educator, I have been honored to serve in the capacity of classroom teacher, where I taught students in 1st through 5th grades.  I have also served as an instructional coach, where I coached and mentored Pre-K through 5th grade teachers and students.  Additionally, I have held the role of assistant principal in a kindergarten through 8th grade school setting.  I earned an Education Doctorate degree from Samford University in 2016.  I also hold an Education Specialist degree (Ed.S), a Master’s degree (M.Ed), and a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degree.  I am also a National Board-Certified Teacher (NBCT).  My undergraduate credentials include two undergraduate degrees in computer information systems.  I am a Cognia-certified STEM specialist and a Cognia-certified school accreditation evaluator and have successfully coached schools nationwide toward STEM certification.  I am excited about my new journey here at Hemphill!  I am absolutely thrilled to have been granted an opportunity to share my collection of experiences with the Hemphill family as well as learn what Hemphill will teach me.  I strongly believe that if the appropriate conditions are set, each of our students can flourish!  It is also my position that if we operate within an accepting, inclusive, and welcoming atmosphere, all of our students will thrive. 

Lastly, I place significant value on teamwork, comradery, and partnerships.  Educating our children is a diverse and multi-faceted responsibility which requires all of us.  I believe that if we work together and leverage the talents that each of us bring, we will create a powerful synergy that will propel our students to exceed their potentials. I am convinced that we can do it together!  I am very optimistic about the incredible future that lies ahead for Hemphill Elementary School, and I am fortunate to be a part of it!

Sincerely,

Dr. Warren Lewis, Principal

Meet Our Assistant Principal

Ms. Jennifer Steele-Brown

Ms. Jennifer Steele-Brown, Ed. S., NBCT

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I am excited to serve as your new Assistant Principal.  Just to give you a little bit of information about myself, I was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  My early education began in the Tuscaloosa City School System.  Upon graduating from Central High School, I attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama.  I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Health Education, with a minor in Psychology.  

Later, I received my Master's degree in Special Education - Specific Learning Disabilities, from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa AL. In 2005, I received my National Board Certification as an Exceptional Needs Specialist, and was recertified in 2014.  As a believer in life-long learning, I completed my Education Specialist degree at Grand Canyon University in 2014. 

I served as a Special Education Teacher for 21 years at EPIC Alternative Elementary School in the Birmingham City Schools district. Throughout my tenure at EPIC, I have served in many capacities, including Lead Special Education Teacher, Lead Mentor Teacher, and part of the Instructional Leadership Team, to name a few.  I served as Assistant Principal at Huffman Academy from 2020-2022.  I am excited to share my expertise and serve at R. C. Hemphill Elementary School.  I am committed to helping every teacher and scholar soar even higher! 

My favorite quote is "Be yourself; everyone else is taken!" ~ Oscar Wilde 

My favorite children's book is A Hero Ain't Nothing But a Sandwich by Alice Childress.

I have a beautiful daughter, and I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  

Every Child Deserves a Champion! - Rita Pearson