LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Arnold Cox's nominator wishes to remain anonymous. 

"Mr. Cox is ending his 3rd year as principal of Chickasaw Middle/High School, which has grades 6-12," explains his nominator. "He took over a school with many challenges. Chickasaw Middle/High is a Title I school with high poverty and majority-Black students. Mr. Cox has moved this school to a 1-to-1 model, where every student has a laptop device. Since becoming principal, he has made and facilitated significant upgrades to the facility such as new flooring, freshly painted walls, new sod, a koi pond, an outdoor classroom, and much more!"

Mr. Cox begins each day by speaking this affirmation over the intercom after the pledge of allegiance and daily announcements:

"I am somebody. I was somebody when I came to CMS, and I will be a better somebody when I leave CHS! I deserve the education that I get at CHS. I am powerful, full of purpose, and I am strong! I have things to accomplish, people to inspire, and places to go!"

While principal, Mr. Cox has brought in many CTE classes that were not there before he came, including aerospace engineering, agriculture, and manufacturing and engineering. His manufacturing and engineering class began a LifeChanger International team! This class produces prosthetic legs using 3D printers and then delivers them to amputees in Central America. He has also initiated the A-plus college-ready curriculum in middle and high schools using the Marzano model.

Mr. Cox, along with his CTE teacher, a special education teacher who is fluent in Spanish, four students, and two prosthetic professionals have been to San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and San Salvador, El Salvador, to fit local amputees! They all were presented the Presidential Volunteer Service Awards by US Congressman Jerry Carl on behalf of President Biden.

Mr. Cox was the runner-up for Middle School Principal of the Year in 2020 for CLAS District 1, which has over 30 schools. He's the 2021 CLAS High School Principal of the Year for District 1 in the state of Alabama! He is currently attending Northcentral University to attain his EdD in educational leadership and meet the requirements to be head of school for IB CP.

Mr. Cox has three daily personal goals: that his students and staff are excited about coming to school, feel safe and valued while at school, and can't wait to return the next day! He is a truly transformational leader who loves his students and gives them every opportunity to be successful. 

Mr. Cox is a 3rd generation educator. His great grandfather, Steven J Boykin, began The Booker Industrial School, the first school for Black students in the late 1800s in Bay Minette, Alabama, where he grew up. Mr. Cox has been in education for 28 years as a substitute teacher, paraprofessional, special education teacher, bus driver, coach (football, basketball, and baseball), assistant principal, and now principal. He is married with a blended family of seven children (five biological and two others) and seven grandchildren.