Baldwin County Public Schools (BCPS) Superintendent Eddie Tyler named Dana Bottoms as the founding principal of Jubilee Elementary School, an elementary school currently under construction in Daphne.

The school's name, Jubilee Elementary, celebrates Daphne's long-standing identity as the "Jubilee City," a reference to the natural phenomenon unique to the area and the strong sense of community the city represents.

Bottoms will be transferring to the new school from W.J. Carroll Intermediate School, where she served as principal for 20 years. She brings more than 30 years of experience in BCPS and a strong commitment to student-centered leadership, academic excellence and positive school culture.

Bottoms began her career in education in 1994 as a classroom teacher at Elizabeth Fonde Elementary School. From 1997 to 2004, she taught at Daphne Intermediate School, which is now W.J. Carroll Intermediate School. She later served as assistant principal of Perdido Elementary/Middle School from 2004 to 2005 before being named principal of W.J. Carroll Intermediate School.

She holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in elementary education from the University of South Alabama. She also earned a K-12 educational administrator leadership certificate from the University of South Alabama.

"I am truly honored to be selected as the principal of Jubilee Elementary," Bottoms said. "The opportunity to open a new school in the Jubilee City and build a strong culture focused on students, families and community from the very beginning is incredibly exciting."

Jubilee Elementary will open its doors to students in the fall of 2026. The school is one of several new construction projects funded through the Pay As You Go program, a funding model unique to Baldwin County Public Schools. In addition to Jubilee Elementary, Loxley Elementary and Elberta Middle School are currently under construction, along with numerous additions and upgrades taking place across the county.

Outside of school, Bottoms enjoys fitness, outdoor activities and spending time with her family and friends. She is married to Curtis Bottoms and the proud mother of Gabrielle Mott and Garland Horst.