At Edmond Memorial High School, Freshman Academy Principal Carrie Higdon, is an educator who lights up every day for her students through her passion for education. From the day-to-day exchanges with her students, going to school events and participating in Swine Week, Higdon goes above and beyond for the freshmen at EMHS.
Higdon has been in the Edmond Public Schools district for many years and has been a principal at various schools. Throughout this time, Higdon has built relationships with many teachers and students across the Edmond community, spreading positivity where she goes.
“I have been in the Edmond district for 24 years,” Higdon said. “I have been at Memorial for most of my career. I spent some time at Boulevard Academy, then, five years at Cimarron Middle School and one year at Heartland Middle School. Now I’m back at the EMHS FA, and this is my third year back.”
During her time with various Edmond schools, Higdon has been a part of many events such as basketball games, Swine Week, volleyball tournaments, football playoffs and more. She has witnessed and partaken in several defining moments, leading to special memories aplenty.
“One of the memories that comes to mind that is athletic-based is when the boys basketball team won the state championship and I was able to give each one of the boys their own medal,” Higdon said. “Our legendary coach Mike Gegligarzo, was also there. He was crying and holding the trophy, and it was an amazing moment because he was an Edmond coach for 30 years, and then he retired. I will always remember that moment.”
Sunny Baldridge, a current English I teacher, has been at EMHS since 2004. Baldridge has known Higdon since the early 1990s, and their friendship alongside their partnership in the workplace has grown over time. Many memories have been made between EMHS and outside of school that helped grow the relationship between the two of them.
“Higdon and I were lifeguards at Moore’s Pool back in 1991,” Baldridge said. “Higdon is on top of everything, I think that it is great that she knows her students in the building. She checks in with all students whether they are struggling or not. She knows her kids.”
One of the freshman counselors, Dawnetta Russell, also known for several years, worked with her during both her stints at EMHS. When Russell thinks of Higdon, she thinks of her joyful spirit.
“I have so many [memories] but she is known for her dancing,” Russell said. “I have known her before the Freshmen Academy, and when I think of her, I always think of how happy she always is. She’s always trying to have a good time.”
Higdon has been a part of the Edmond community. Thanks to the positive, to the direct relationships that she had built along the way. She is known for her kind words and her positive attitude. Her advice for incoming freshmen:
“Be kind, be kind,” Higdon said. “If we can be kind to one another, we can make it. Even when we get frustrated, if we are kind to one another, we can make it. I think now that we have lived through COVID, and the challenging time in society, and how polarized our society can be, now I try to talk to kids about being good humans and being kind.”
Contact Jordan Moore at [email protected]
Sharon mckethan • Feb 3, 2025 at 6:48 pm
Great job miss you