BROOKHAVEN — Alonzo Cameron talked to some co-workers outside Mamie Martin Elementary when he said hello with the brightest smile close to where The Dart landed Friday morning. Cameron is a native of Brookhaven and is now the assistant principal at Mamie Martin Elementary. 

Cameron once walked the halls at Mamie Martin and graduated from Brookhaven High School in 1998. He attended Jackson State University, where he got a bachelor of arts in history. 

He said a high school history teacher at Brookhaven High inspired him to study history in college. The Renaissance was his favorite period to learn. 

“I love it. It was just a different aspect of history to me.,” Cameron said. “It set the stage for where we are today.” 

After Jackson State, he earned a master’s in educational leadership from Capella University, and he earned a specialty degree from William Carey University in instructional leadership. 

Those degrees have helped set the foundation for his work as an assistant principal, a teacher and a coach. Educational and instructional leadership courses taught him how to show growth in students. 

After leaving William Carey, he lived in Laurel and lived in Arlington, Texas. He left Arlington to return home to Brookhaven because he was offered a job at Alexander Junior High to coach football. 

In 2020, he hung up the playsheet and whistle to become an administrator for the school district. His school days start at 6:45 a.m., and he does a walk-through of campus. 

Then he greets the kids as they come off the school buses. During the school day, he handles discipline and ensures teachers have everything they need to succeed. 

“I enjoy dealing with the parents and the kids the most,” Cameron said. “They bring excitement to my day. I like to talk to the kids and influence them. I chose to go into education because I love people. One of the biggest ways I wanted to influence the community was to give back by coaching, teaching and now leading.” 

For the past 18 years, he has dedicated his time to educating the next generation and giving back. Teachers and administrators stay busy over the summer to prepare for the next school year. 

In his free time, he likes to spend time with his family and two kids. They go sightseeing by driving down country roads to enjoy the summertime and longer days. He said they also like to fish for catfish, bass and anything else that bites. 

With the Fourth of July this Monday, he plans to spend time with family having a barbecue. He said the perfect barbecue plate has ribs, baked beans and a green salad. 

His dream is to be a head principal in the Brookhaven School District. 

“I want to lead my school. That is my goal, to lead in the right direction,” Cameron said. “If I ever got out of education, I won’t know what to do. I work with some amazing people here, and I’m grateful. Our principal is Nancy Fisher, and my assistant principal is Ashley Davis.”