Willie Goldsmith Jr.
Willie Goldsmith Jr.
Professional experience: Principal at Wenonah High School; has been with the Birmingham City Schools since 2002. His administrative roles have included serving as assistant principal at Jess Lanier High and Huffman High schools, and as principal at several institutions including Huffman High, Wenonah K-8, Jones Valley K-8 and Green Acres Middle. Former member of the Army Reserve. He has been honored with awards including the Metro Birmingham NAACP Golden Educator Award, Principal of the Year for Middle School and the Alabama Association of Gifted Educators Principal of the Year.
Educational experience: Doctorate in education, Argosy University – Phoenix Online Division, 2014; education specialist, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1997; master’s in education, UAB, 1994; bachelor’s in secondary education in teaching, UAB, 1991.
Civic experience: Member of the American Legion and the NAACP; member, Refresh Family Church; neighborhood president for the Apple Valley Community.
Main issues: On his website, Goldsmith says his reasons for running are to create safer neighborhoods, foster economic growth and empowerment, build stronger community relations, revitalize and beautify the neighborhoods; and support and strengthen schools. Some steps on his to-do list are to invest in small businesses and job creation, expand workforce training and development, support local entrepreneurship and innovation, employ community policing and focus on crime prevention and education, conduct regular town hall meetings, and target blight in the neighborhoods.
