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People Schools
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Dr. Yvette Richardson is the new Russell County superintendent, filling the position left vacant by the death of Dr. Vivian Carter. Her 2 1/2-year contract began in January. Sherill Parris, former administrator for the Alabama Reading Initiative, was named assistant superintendent of education for reading. She replaces Dr. Katherine Mitchell, the first person to hold the position, who retired in December.
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Rebecca Darby of Lauderdale County’s Central High School was named the state’s only math finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. In science, the finalists are Ashley Allen of Oneonta schools’ Oneonta High School and Jennifer ReedTaunton of Albertville’s Alabama Avenue Middle School. Lester Brown of Greene County and Dr. Beth McCulloch Vinson of Lawrence County won free registration to upcoming AASB School Board Member Academy conferences. Their names were drawn from completed evaluation forms. Annie C. Hunter, Lowndes County school board member, won a shoppers’ package drawing from The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover for early check-out during AASB’s annual convention. The state Department of Education recently landed a $1.8 million School Improvement grant to expand the Alabama Reading Initiative Project for Adolescent Literacy project to low-performing schools. Seven schools will be selected from Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa city schools and Mobile and Montgomery counties. Judy Brown and Mark Raines received national awards from the Association for Career and Technical Education. Brown, who formerly taught culinary arts at Madison’s Bob Jones High, was named 2008 National Teacher of the Year. Raines, a Tuscaloosa Center for Technology teacher, was named Outstanding New Career and Technical Teacher. Jefferson County’s Bryan Elementary School in Morris hosted a media conference that included state and school leaders and the Institute for America’s Health director to discuss the state’s kid-friendly health and wellness curriculum for fourth- and fifth-graders, Wellness, Academics and You. WAY programs are also under way in Bullock, Chambers, Cherokee, Clarke, Covington, Madison, Mobile and Shelby counties and the cities of Dothan, Ft. Payne, Hoover and Opelika. Montgomery County’s McIntyre Middle School, the only Alabama school, won a national grant from the Parent Teachers Association for its efforts to promote families and school collaboration. ■
30 Alabama School Boards • Januar y l Februar y 2008
2007-2008 TORCHBEARER SCHOOLS Nine Alabama public schools from across the state were named Torchbearer Schools and received $15,000. In 2004, the Torchbearer program was launched to recognize schools that succeed despite the odds. To be eligible, high-performing schools must have at least an 80 percent poverty rate. “The nine schools receiving the 20072008 Torchbearer Award are staffed with educators who truly care about their students enough to make learning an enriching experience,” said state Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton.
Anna F. Booth Elementary Mobile County
Edgewood Elementary Selma
E.D. Nixon Elementary Montgomery County
George Hall Elementary Mobile County
Indian Springs Elementary Mobile County
Lincoln Elementary Huntsville
Mary W. Burroughs Elementary Mobile County
North Birmingham Elementary Birmingham
Wilkerson Middle School Birmingham