October is #PrincipalAppreciationMonth and today we are celebrating our amazing team of principals from the Chelsea school zone. Thank you to Mary Anderson, Stevi Sims, Cynthia Cruce, and Brandon Turner for your outstanding leadership in the Chelsea community.
October is #PrincipalAppreciationMonth and today we are celebrating the remarkable principals from the Calera school zone. Thank you to Shannon Montgomery, Haley Franks, Desaree Jackson, and Christopher Myles for your unwavering dedication to the Calera school community!
One of the 5 commitments in the Shelby County Schools' Strategic Plan is Leadership Development. The Teacher Leader Academy consists of teachers who want to grow in non-administrative roles and leverage their passion to make a positive difference in our district. Today was the initial meeting of the Teacher Leader Academy and they were hard at work!
Shelby County Schools has implemented the Anonymous Alerts reporting system (AARS) that empowers individuals to report safety concerns and warning signs of potentially threatening behavior before they can escalate into a crisis. The Anonymous Alerts reporting software helps students, timid or not, to come forward and use their voices. It is designed to be an anonymous two-way communications channel, allowing students across the district’s 31 schools to securely share issues and concerns privately with school officials.
"We always encourage students across all of our school communities to come forward with critical concerns. Student safety is always a top priority along with mental health support rounding out our holistic approach to creating safer academic environments for individual learning,” said Dr. Lewis Brooks, Superintendent of Shelby County Schools.
It's easy and completely confidential for Shelby County Schools students to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies. A report can be made through the Anonymous Alerts app, which can be downloaded for free on Apple and Android. Additionally, Shelby County Schools has placed an "Anonymous Alerts" button in various key areas of its website and its schools’ websites for students to access a reporting form.
The Anonymous Alerts system has helped schools stop suspected school shooting plots, suicides, gun threats, and concerning behavior. The system works to reduce other acts of violence like bullying, self-harm, drug use, threats, cyberbullying, and online harassment. As the name illustrates, reports made in the app are anonymous, although tipsters can provide contact information if they would like to do so. As more and more schools throughout the United States place an emphasis on providing safety initiatives and tools, Anonymous Alerts will become the cornerstone of threat assessment documentation.
Reporting is available in English, Spanish, and a dozen other languages, and photos, videos or screenshots may be attached to any report. The mobile reporting app offers a "helpful links and resources" section with informational websites and videos related to cyberbullying, social and emotional learning, self-harm prevention, and mental health self-help content.
Congratulations to four Shelby County schools that were recently honored for having the highest average daily attendance to date. The schools were Mt Laurel Elementary with 97.1%, Chelsea Middle with 96.6%, and Helena High and Chelsea High (tied) with 95.5%
Denise Garibay will serve as the next Assistant Principal for Oak Mountain Middle School. Mrs. Garibay has 13 years in education and most recently served as the Assistant Principal at Odenville Middle School in St. Clair County.
Students who attend school regularly have access to many supports that enable them to be successful. Some of these supports include:
✅ Teachers' Expertise: Teachers are there to help students understand difficult topics, answer questions, and guide their learning journey. Missing school means missing out on their valuable knowledge and support.
✅ Access to Nutritious Meals: Schools provide access to nutritious breakfast and lunch, helping students who may be facing food insecurity issues at home.
✅ Counseling Services: Schools provide access to counselors who can help students dealing with mental health issues and with future planning. They're a great resource for mental well-being.
✅ Extracurricular Activities: Clubs, sports teams, and other extracurricular activities offer opportunities for personal growth, skill development, and making lifelong friends.
✅ Library Resources: School libraries are treasure troves of knowledge. They offer books, research materials, and a quiet space for studying.
✅ Structured Routine: Attending school helps students establish a routine, which can improve time management skills and boost productivity.
✅ Access to Technology: Many schools provide access to technology and the internet, which is crucial for research and online learning.
#MissingSchoolisMissingOut #ShowingUpTogether
Many of life's most valuable lessons are learned through collaboration. By attending school regularly, students can actively participate in group projects, extracurricular activities, and sports, fostering teamwork and cooperation skills that are essential in both academic and real-world settings. #MissingSchoolisMissingOut #ShowingUpTogether
Congratulations to our 2023 National Merit Semifinalists! #DoGreatThings #PreparedfortheJourney
Jay McGaughy will serve as the new Transportation Supervisor for Shelby County Schools. Mr. McGaughy has over twenty years of experience as an educator teaching World History, coaching various sports, and serving as athletic director. He is currently an assistant principal at Oak Mountain Middle School.
School is a place where lasting friendships are formed. When students attend school regularly, they have the opportunity to engage in conversations, share experiences, and develop bonds that can last a lifetime. #MissingSchoolIsMissingOut #ShowingUpTogether
Shelby County Schools will be closed on Monday, September 4, for Labor Day.
Consistent school attendance is the key to a child's success. Regular attendance boosts their confidence, builds strong relationships, helps develop life skills, and ensures they don't miss out on crucial lessons. #AttendanceMatters
HIPPY - Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters is now accepting applications for students aged 2-5 years old who need assistance becoming kindergarten-ready. See below for more information.
Dr. Lewis Brooks joined superintendents from the Alabaster, Pelham, and Hoover school districts at the annual Shelby County Chamber of Commerce State of Our Schools Luncheon on August 30 to share what is going well in each district and what challenges they each face.
Maurice Whiting will serve as the next assistant principal at Calera High. Whiting, a graduate of Shelby County High School, has over ten years of experience in education and was most recently serving as the administrative assistant at Calera High.
Monica Hubbard will serve as the new assistant principal at Chelsea High. Hubbard has over twenty years of experience in public education and has taught 6-12 grade English in multiple states. She has been with Shelby County Schools for the past thirteen years at New Direction.
Dale Massey will serve as the next assistant principal at Helena High. Massey has served 12 years with Shelby County Schools, including as a teacher and department chair at Helena High. He most recently served as an administrative assistant at Chelsea High.
Congratulations to to Ashlee Elliott, one of our district's technology resource teachers, and Jayla Coleman, a senior at Chelsea High School who were honored as Journey Shapers by Dr. Lewis Brooks for their work in writing and illustrating the newly published - The ABCs of Computer Science. Through the partnership with the Shelby County Schools Education Foundation, all proceeds from the book sales will benefit the continued integration of computer science in K-12 classrooms across the district.
Congratulations to the 2023 Owens-Young Technology Innovation Award Winners. This year's winners are Angela Mitchell from Vincent Elementary, Whitney Howton from Oak Mountain Middle, and John Milton from Oak Mountain High.
The Owens-Young Technology Award was established in 2013 to honor the memory of two former Shelby County Schools’ employees who paved the way for teachers to integrate technology into their classrooms. Denise Owens, the wife of former District Attorney Robby Owens, was a former teacher and technology resource teacher who passed away in 2007. Michael Young, who passed away in 2013, was a network technician whose work supported teachers.
Each spring teachers are nominated by peers and school administrators for the Owens-Young Technology Award, which recognizes teachers who do an outstanding job of integrating technology into their classrooms and inspiring innovation among their colleagues. Each winner receives $1,000 in technology for their classroom and is invited to attend the Alabama Educational Technology Conference held each summer.
