GULF SHORES, Ala. — Gulf Shores Middle School has completed its administrative team with the hiring of their principal, Phillip Fountain.

After more than two weeks without a principal, the middle school principal job was given to Fountain last Thursday.

Fountain has been a Baldwin County resident all of his life and has been educated through the Baldwin County public school system, as well as worked within the system through his entire career.

He grew up in Silverhill and graduated from Robertsdale High School.

For his college education, Fountain started at Faulkner University where he had a baseball scholarship. But after suffering from shoulder problems Fountain had to adjust his plans.

“I could not see myself going farther with baseball and I wanted to concentrate on school,” he said. “I transferred to South Alabama, and I knew I wanted to go into education.”

From there, Fountain set his sights on elementary education. In 2001 he graduated from USA with a bachelor’s degree.

He began applying to schools in Baldwin County and was offered a sixth grade science position at the school he is now overseeing. During his first tenure with GSMS, Fountain worked with athletics as an assistant coach for baseball and football.

Then he picked up a bus route and drove for a year and a half.

As if he wasn’t busy enough, Fountain then headed back to USA to earn a master’s degree in education.

Fountain taught for five years before applying to a county intern program geared towards preparing personnel for administration careers.

“I spent the 06-07 school year around the county serving at various schools, working as an administrator,” he said.

Once his internship was finished Fountain moved to the assistant principal position at Foley Middle School. He said that this job, as well as working under principal Branton Bailey, prepared him for his new position.

“Working at Foley Middle School I was in charge of several things, either shared responsibility or total responsibility,” Fountain said. He handled the buses, discipline and daily operation of the school. Fountain also served as the summer school principal, which gave him experience to use now.

He worked there for the last year and a half before taking over at GSMS. Fountain saw the opportunity when Dr. Ernie Rosado left the position to move to the high school. Fountain jumped at the chance to serve at his career-starting school.

“I knew that was an opportunity to come back,” he said. “When I got the call that the board had approved me, it sent emotions through me because I knew I was coming back home.”

Dr. Faron Hollinger, superintendent of schools for the Baldwin County Board of Education, felt like Fountain was right for the job.

“Phillip certainly was the best fit at this time,” said Hollinger. “I’m confident that given his experience in our school system and his ties to the community that he will do a very fine job for us.”

Fountain lives in Gulf Shores with his wife Michelle and two stepchildren John Carey Brett, who is a seventh grader at GSMS, and Joi Brett, a Gulf Shore High School student. Fountain prides himself on being part of the community and having an investment in the city.

“This is a place I want to be at for a long time,” he said. “I’m going to be here for a long time.”

Fountain said that right now he is observing and surveying the way the school operates. He said that the school is a successful institution and said that there probably won’t need to be a lot of changes to the school.

He will, however, institute new traditions starting with the upcoming and new homecoming celebration that will take place at the end of this month.

Fountain’s main goal is to offer a proper education to his students.

“It’s about the kids, and I’m going to do everything in my power I possibly can to make sure that they are successful inside that classroom as well as outside the classroom with extracurricular activities,” Fountain said. “And trying to teach them to be responsible, caring citizens within our society.”