Since accepting the job a few months back, Ozella D. Ford has been commuting every day from Montgomery to her new school, Sophia P. Kingston Elementary.

Ford will serve as the school’s new principal.

“This is my heart, right here,” Ford said. “I think it is important for our parents to know that they will experience the new Kingston this school year. They will experience education like no other previous years here at Kingston.”

Ford was born and raised in Montgomery but is familiar with the Selma area. She said before accepting the job, she would frequently visit Selma and its churches. She said, however, it wasn’t until she attended the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday that she really felt a connection with the area.

“It was rather invigorating to be a part of the activities that were going on,” Ford said. “From that point on, I always followed the activities here.”

When she heard of the opportunity to work in Selma, she couldn’t pass it up, she said.

Ford earned her bachelors degree in education and master’s in elementary education from Auburn University. Later, she attended Troy University, where she obtained her master’s in adult education. Now, she is in the educational leadership policy doctoral program at Alabama State University.

In the past 22 years, Ford has taught in Autauga, Macon and Montgomery Counties to students in second grade, college and nearly every grade in between. In Montgomery County, she also worked as assistant principal and principal.

“Out of the 22 years that I have been in education, I have never had a bad year,” Ford said. “I’ve always had the best classes, and on the administrative side, the best faculty.”

Ford said she understands the importance of providing a solid and inspirational education for elementary students. It was about this age when she discovered teaching as a passion and has been able to carry that passion throughout adulthood.

“I can remember as young as 6 maybe 7 years old, always wanting to play teacher,” Ford said. “What I learned in school, I turned around and taught to [my sisters] at home playing teacher and I was always the teacher.”

Ford said she is looking forward to meeting the parents at the school’s Back-to-School Social on Friday from 3-5 p.m. at the school. She said it will be an opportunity for parents to meet the teachers, meet the administrative staff and to learn about Ford’s vision and mission for the school.