Rickie Pierce is stepping down as associate head and upper school principal at Girls Preparatory School after 28 years of service.
During her time at GPS, Pierce said she enjoyed helping shape the characters of many of the leaders of today as well as tomorrow.
“I have such a feeling of hope about the future because we have so many wonderful young people going into it,” she said.
Pierce said the part of her job she will miss most is interacting with the girls through her involvement with activities as well as individual meetings with each student three times per year.
“Overseeing projects, being able to lead assemblies and share things with the student body and one-on-one, giving guidance when needed – all that I hope has been significant (in the students’ lives),” said Pierce.
She said the most difficult aspects of her position, such as balancing the many demands and keeping up with more than 400 girls, have also been her favorite parts of the job.
In addition to her career at GPS, Pierce is the past president of numerous local organizations including CALM (now READ), Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga, Sister City Association of Chattanooga, the Speech and Hearing Center and the Symphony Guild. She is currently on the board of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library, the Junior League Advisory Board and the Women’s Leadership Institute Board, among others.
Pierce said she will use her newfound freedom to travel with her husband Charles Pierce, take advantage of additional volunteer opportunities and spend more time with her granddaughter, Lea Taylor Mulligan, who starts at GPS next year.
She said Jessica Good will be the school’s new upper school principal, and her duties as associate head will most likely be split between Good and Headmaster Randy Tucker.