Colleen F. McGinnis has two children, Tony and Katie who attend Cedar Bluff School. She attended Interlarchen Elementary School in Interlarchen Florida. She is a 1990 graduate of Gaylesville High School. She received Who's Who Among American High School Students, All County Basketball Team, All Area Basketball Team, and Senior High Homecoming Queen in 1989. She attended Snead State Community College for 1 year, Columbus College for 1 year , Floyd Community College for 1 year and earned an Associates of Science Degree in 1995. She attended Jacksonville State University for 2 years and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in education in 1997. She received Special Honors in Education and Summa Cum Laude. She was in the sorority Kappa Delta Pi. Colleen earned her Master's Degree from the University of Alabama. She is a member of AEA, NEA, and CCEA. She has been the treasurer of the PTO for eleven years. She has taught second grade for 11 years and third grade for 1 year. She enjoys reading, traveling, and camping with her children.

Philosophy of Education:
"I chose education as a profession after both my children were born. I was in college but unsure of what I wanted to be. The world today is kind of scary, so I was very concerned about their future. I have always worked with and been around other people's children and had felt the same concern for them. I decided that education would be a profession that would give me a chance to not only to be closer to my own kids, but to possibly make a difference in some others' lives also. The future is uncertain for all of us. The children growing up now need to have self-confidence, self-worth, and an understanding of how important they are in shaping our society. I can see some of my students dealing with the same anxieties that I remember dealing with when I was in elementary school. I am worried, though, that their problems are ten-fold because of our changing world. I wish I could see into their bright little minds to help me understand. As teachers we need to try our best o understand. We need to help our students try to understand the world around them and possibly give them some means and systems for coping, growing, and learning in their world. My elementary teachers gave these gifts to me. I believe that teachers are doing this now, but are facing more difficult obstacles. The word education means something different to everyone. I believe that having an education means being able to deal with the world around you in a productive and fulfilling manner. All subject areas taught in school are important, especially basics like Reading, Language, and Math. These are all parts of an education, but the most important part is being able to take what you learned from these and use it in the world. Children need to be "well-rounded" and confident. When this happens in a child, that child has truly been educated. I feel that schools, in conjunction with families can produce students who can work alongside one another using the skills of subject matter and also social and moral skills."