Rebecca Baggett has announced her retirement as Headmaster of Crenshaw Christian Academy (CCA), ending her decades-long career in education at a school very dear to her heart. 

Baggett has served as the headmaster of CCA for seven years before announcing her retirement ahead of a celebration held on May 13. 

“Crenshaw Christian Academy will always be my home,” Baggett said. “I will always be a Cougar… I have an excellent faculty and staff and they’re just family. We all treat each other like family; we are there for each other, in the good and the bad, and [we] help [each other] through whatever life throws our way.”

During her 48 years in education, Baggett has worked at Dozier Elementary in Montgomery, Ashford Academy and Pike Liberal Arts School. 

At Dozier, Baggett served as a physical education teacher for 25 years. She later served as a teacher, assistant headmaster and headmaster at Ashford. 

Before CCA, Baggett served as an assistant headmaster and headmaster at Pike Lib in Troy where she also launched and coached their tennis team. 

“I had a lot of students over the years, and I’m daily getting messages from some that I had 40 – 45 years ago and that’s very rewarding that they still remember and appreciate what [I] did for them,” Baggett said. “You touch a lot of lives as an educator, and you just want to make a positive difference in their lives.” 

Baggett has been recognized as WSFA’s Teacher of the Year, and was admitted to the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) Hall of Fame in 2024 for her leadership and contributions to education. 

During her time as headmaster at CCA, Baggett witnessed growth in the student body and athletic accomplishments such as the Cougars winning the state football championship in 2020, the volleyball team winning the junior high state volleyball tournament in 2022 and the girls’ weightlifting team earning the weightlifting state championship this season. 

“All of those things are things that stick out in your mind, and you’d never forget [them],” Baggett said.

In her retirement, Baggett hopes to spend more time with her family and grandchildren. Additionally, Baggett will be working on her farm with her husband, Kenneth Baggett, recently retired as Director of Missions for the Salem-Troy Baptist Association.

“Seven years ago, Mrs. Baggett came to Crenshaw as a headmaster full of new ideas for our school and shortly became part of our family,” said SalLee Sasser-Williams, the CCA board president. “I enjoyed working with her and helping our school continue our Tradition of Excellence.

“As she embarks on her retirement as an educator and administrator, she leaves a mark of herself within each of us. Mrs. Baggett will be missed tremendously, and we all wish her the best in her new normal of traveling and enjoying her family.”

After Baggett’s retirement, Valorie Stroud will be stepping up to serve as headmaster.