Principal Information

Opie Blackwell has served as the proud principal of Centennial High School since 2023 and brings 20 years of experience with Fulton County Schools. His career spans roles as a teacher at Alpharetta High School, Curriculum Assistant Principal at Riverwood High School, and Principal of Ridgeview Middle School. Originally from Canon City, Colorado, Dr. Blackwell has called Georgia home since 2006.

Dr. Blackwell received his undergraduate degree in English from the University of Colorado, his Master's Degree in English Education from Georgia State University, his Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University, and his Doctorate in School Improvement from the University of West Georgia. Dr. Blackwell's dissertation explored the impact of professional learning communities of educators on classroom instructional strategy implementation. During his seven years serving as Principal of Ridgeview, Dr. Blackwell's work was recognized in the Congressional Record by Congresswoman Lucy McBath and by the Georgia Association of Educational Leadership and Georgia Association of Middle School Principals. Under his leadership, his school earned two national recognitions for academic and social-development excellence: the Georgia Lighthouse Schools to Watch designation earned from the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform and the School of Distinction designation earned from the Association of Middle Level Education. During his tenure serving as Principal of Centennial, Dr. Blackwell's work has been recognized by North Fulton Council of PTSA's "Outstanding Principal" award, by the Student Support Team Association of Georgia Educators with its "Promising Practices" award for the best High School MTSS program in the state of Georgia, by the Georgia Department of Education as a "Beating the Odds" school, and by the Chief Communication Officer's "Outstanding Communicator" award for school communications practices.

Dr. Blackwell is a relationships-driven servant leader who believes that the education provided at Centennial High School can change the trajectory of students' lives.

Outside of school Dr. Blackwell has a middle-school-aged daughter who attends Fulton County Schools, a partner of over 20 years, and an abundantly energetic rescue Chocolate Lab / Vizsla named Trudy. Dr. Blackwell is an avid exerciser who is up at 5:00 a.m. every weekday, a bit of a foodie, a lover of cars (though he can't fix them), and a person who prides himself in being someone others can depend upon.

For information about the Centennial Administration and their primary responsibilities, visit our Administration Overview page in the Staff section.