Cedric Magee, principal of Warren Central Junior High School is a humble man who puts the needs of his students above personal accolades.
Magee was chosen as this year’s Vicksburg Warren School District Administrator of the Year for the second time in his career.
Magee, who has been a part of the district for 14 years, said he felt honored to receive the award.
“All the principals are deserving because everyone really works hard,” he said.
The principals of the school district vote on the principal they want to receive the award.
Chad Shealy, Superintendent of the VWSD said he could see why Magee won the award.
“It’s because he’s probably one of the most accommodating people, and he has very strong people-skills,” Shealy said.
David Campbell, assistant superintendent of the VWSD said that he has worked with Magee only a short time but he always tries to do what’s best for the children he works with.
“Whenever he calls me, he’s always trying to put the interest of the child in the forefront,” he said.
“He has integrity, he’s kind, he’s respected by his peers,” Shealy said.
Shealy said Magee has a remarkable way of finding solutions that will be best for students.
“He’s very flexible and he’s humble,” he said.
His secretary, Sarah Cage, has worked with him for 10 years and has never worked with a boss as great as he is.
“He is very easy to work under, work for, work with. He’s smart,” she said.
She said as far as students are concerned, people do not know how far his heart goes.
“I think he’s a great mentor. He’ll pay for students to go to the ballgame. Buy popcorn and drinks,” she said.
She has never seen someone command so much respect from students as he does.
“He’s very calm,” she said.
The job he is doing is perfect for him.
“This is not a perfect world but God has chosen certain people to do certain jobs and God has chosen him to do this,” Cage said.
He has nowhere to go but up in his career
The award was presented to Magee during convocation on Aug. 6, which is the annual meeting of teachers and administrators that marks the beginning of the school year.
There were few awards given and his was on the program.
This award is not the first Magee has won in his time with the VWSD. He also received teacher of the year in 2001 when he was working at WCI and administrator of the year in 2007.
Magee said he has always wanted to be a teacher.
His defining moment came when he was in ninth grade. That’s when he said he knew he wanted to become an elementary school teacher.
He went to Winona High School, and his principal, Mr. Clinton Teague made an impact on him.
“He was an inspiration to me,” Magee said.
Magee received his undergraduate degree at Alcorn State University in 1999 and received his master’s degree from Jackson state university in 2002.
At only 26 years old, Magee began working at Warren Central Intermediate School.
“I was going to school as I was teaching at Warren Central Intermediate. After I received my degree, there was an assistant principal position open and I applied and was hired at Warren Central Junior High School. I worked there as assistant principal for one year,” he said.
He then went to Redwood as principal from 2003 to 2006 before returning to Warren Central Junior High School.
“I was asked to come back and I have worked at Warren Central Junior High ever since,” he said.
“I really enjoy the staff and I really enjoy the students,” he said.
Both of Magee’s parents were educators. His mother taught first grade. His father taught upper elementary school and he taught math and social studies.
Magee said they offered him a strong support system during his time in school.
His wife is Tonya Magee, who is the principal at Warren Central Intermediate and they have two daughters who both attend Bowmar Elementary — sixth-grader Tylah Magee, 11 years old, and third-grader, Tia Magee, eight years old.