Shelby County Schools

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.

Madison Burton, SGA president for Chelsea High School and Youth Leadership Shelby alum, recently completed an internship for Leadership Shelby. This morning she helped welcome new Leadership Shelby class members and alumni at the annual kickoff breakfast.

Dr. Lewis Brooks, Superintendent of the Shelby County School District, has been named District Superintendent of the Year for District Five of the State Superintendent’s Association (SSA). Dr. Brooks is one of nine district winners for SSA that will now compete for the overall state Superintendent of the Year award. Dr. Brooks was elected Superintendent of Shelby County Schools in 2018 and re-elected for a second term in 2022. During his tenure, he has led Shelby County Schools through several challenges, including a world pandemic and the aftermath of a tornado. He has ensured that academic progress is the chief focus resulting in student data that continues to trend upward. Dr. Brooks has led the district to undertake a $43 million capital campaign project, providing classroom upgrades and facility improvements across the county. He has fostered innovation through instructional initiatives, including a new surgical technician program, a medical diagnostics program, and a substantial increase in dual enrollment class offerings throughout the district. He has received numerous awards for his service, including the Samford University Learning for Life Award, the Alabama Association of Prevention and Support Services Leadership Award, and the University of Montevallo Distinguished Alumni Award. He was inducted into the University of Montevallo Student Athlete Hall of Fame and named a Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association. He was recently honored as the 2022 Public Servant of the Year by the Greater Shelby County Chamber. “I am blessed and honored to be recognized by my colleagues,” Dr. Brooks said. “I am very grateful to serve the students and the greater Shelby County community. This award is not just about me, but about all of the individuals who make Shelby County such a great place for student learning.” Each SSA district selects a District Superintendent of the Year finalist in August. SSA uses a panel of judges to review the applications of the district finalists and select the Superintendent of the Year for Alabama. The Alabama Superintendent of the Year is then eligible to compete at the national level to become the National Superintendent of the Year awarded by AASA: The School Superintendents Association in February each year.

Parents, are you worried about paying for your child's medical care if an accident should happen? K&K's student accident insurance can help. Click this link for more information: https://www.kandkinsurance.com/sites/K12Voluntary/Pages/Home.aspx

April Maner will serve as the new assistant principal at Helena Elementary. Maner has served in Shelby County Schools for thirteen years. She began her career at Calera Elementary School as a kindergarten teacher and first-grade teacher. She most recently served as a Local Reading Specialist for the district and as an administrative assistant for Helena Elementary. April has a bachelor’s degree in Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Alabama, a master's degree in Elementary Education, a certification in Instructional Leadership, and most recently an Education Specialist degree in Instructional Technology from the University of Montevallo.