Dr. Todd Freeman, the superintendent of Vestavia Hills Municipal Schools, has been named Alabama’s 2026 Superintendent by the Alabama State Secretary (SSA). This appointment highlights Freeman’s ongoing commitment to public education and his leadership within one of the state’s top-performing school districts.
Vestavia Hills City Schools expressed their congratulations to Freeman on social media, recognizing that they have been named finalists for the award.
“We are honored to be chosen as the 2026 Alabama finalist, with our superintendent, Dr. Todd Freeman, who was selected based on a nomination submitted to the Alabama School Principal (SSA) from various nominations statewide,” they stated.
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Freeman has served as the seventh director of the Vestavia Hills city schools since March 2018. During his time in this position, the district has established new strategic goals, secured renewed certifications, and carried out significant restructuring and rezoning initiatives. These efforts also included the opening of three new campuses: Dolly Ridge at Vestavia Hills Elementary School, the Louis Pizitz Middle School Campus, and the Vestavia Hills High School Freshman Campus.
Prior to his role in Vestavia Hills, Freeman was the leader of the school district in Silakauga, East Alabama. While there, he managed the development of strategic initiatives and the expansion of a property tax to support various capital improvement projects. Under his direction, the district also broadened its offerings in the arts, career and technical education, and early childhood education.
With over 30 years of experience in public education, Freeman’s career began as a social studies teacher at Auburn High School. He later became the executive director of operations and management services at Auburn City School before returning to Auburn High School as the principal in 2010.
A native of Clay County, Alabama, Freeman has degrees from Jacksonville State University and Auburn University, along with a PhD in Educational Leadership from Valdosta State University.
