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Vestavia Hills native Jarred Brookins is named head soccer coach at Oregon State. Read more starting on page 24.
Cover photograph courtesy of Oregon State Athletics
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EDITOR’S NOTE
As summer rolls into Birmingham, there’s something magical in the air—longer days, the smell of grills firing up, and the sound of kids laughing in sprinklers. For families, this season is a perfect mix of chaos and calm, and in this issue, we’re embracing both.
This month, we hit the road—literally. Our travel story (page 10) takes you on a charming family trip to LaGrange, Georgia. Just under two hours from Birmingham, this small-town gem is packed with kid-friendly activities, nature escapes, and just enough adventure to fill a weekend with memories.
We’re also shining a spotlight on a local mom who turned her love of baking into a sweet side hustle.
Stacey Wolf’s cookies aren’t just delicious—they’re a reminder that small passions can grow into something truly special. Be sure to check out her story in our Mom Makers column on page 16.
As the school year winds down, screen time becomes a big topic around many kitchen tables. We explore some thoughtful ways to strike a healthy balance during the summer months (page 14)—
because let’s face it, it’s not about banning screens, it’s about making room for everything else that matters, too.
And speaking of everything else—don’t forget your local library. Birmingham’s branches are brimming with summer reading programs that make it fun (and rewarding!) for kids to dive into books. Whether your child is into space adventures, animal stories, or graphic novels, there’s something waiting for them on those shelves.
Summer in the South is a season to savor—sticky hands, late bedtimes, spontaneous ice cream runs and all (catch us at Mountain Brook Creamery on lots of weeknights). We hope this issue helps you make the most of it!
Stephanie Gibson Lepore, Content Director and Mom, stephanie@jbmcmedia.com
Sean of the South A Mother’s Love p. 8
Travel
Hit the road to LaGrange, Georgia p. 10
Health
Screen time for kids p. 14
Schoolhouse
Update from the Hoover School District p. 27
Education
News from local schools p. 28
Happenings
May Events Calendar p. 30
FEATURE STORIES
Mom Makers
How Stacey Wolf turned a creative spark into Dash Bakery p. 16
Family Heirlooms
How to consider what to save p. 20
The Ultimate Goal
Local soccer coach heads to Oregon State p. 24
Struggling with Phone Conversations?
Alabama Relay Speech-to-Speech (STS) is a no-cost service for those with speech disabilities or use a voice synthesizer, allowing communication over the phone using their own voice with help from a trained STS operator.
alabamarelay.com/sts
A Mother’s Love
“I am a little old woman who lives in an assisted living facility…” her email began.
Her following message was about the length of War and Peace. She is a woman who is as sweet as Karo syrup. But— and I mean this respectfully— brevity is not her strong suit. Reading her email took me three or four presidential administrations.
“I had a baby when I was fourteen…” she wrote.
Sean Dietrich
The 14-year-old gave birth in the single-wide trailer that belonged to an aunt. The delivery was in secret. Nobody knew her son existed. Least of all her immediate family.
Finally, the aunt put the child up for adoption. It was impractical for a girl of 14 to raise a child. This was a different era.
The goodbye between mother and son was almost too much to bear. The 14-year-old held her infant in her arms when officials came to take him away.
Over time, the girl grew into a woman. The woman grew into a wife. The wife had three kids. The wife’s husband made decent money.
She moved into a nice house. Her children did pretty good in school. Her offspring grew up to be successful and handsome and beautiful and well-off and happy. Fill in the blank.
But the woman had a void in her heart.
“A child is a piece of you, physically. Like an organ. People who’ve never had kids can’t understand.”
She dreamed about her son. Every night. Without fail. In her dreams, she could see him. She watched him grow. She saw his smile. She heard him speak. Once again, she cannot explain what she means. But she tries.
“It’s like a radar,” she explains. “My soul was sending out a radar signal, and I think God was sending me radar signals back.”
I took a break from reading the email. I still had 78,000,000 words left to read before finishing her story.
So, I’ll hit the highpoints.
On her son’s 42nd birthday, she had an unusually vivid dream. This dream was the strangest one she ever had.
In this dream, an old man told her to search
for her lost son. It was undoubtedly an angel, the woman believes. He wore the quintessential white gown. He had the shining halo. The whole celestial enchilada.
The next morning, she contacted an agency who helped with this sort of thing. It didn’t take long to find her son.
Her son was living in Texas. And for the purposes of this story, let’s just say he was an important guy. A very, very important guy.
The agency gave her his address. She made no calls. She gave her son’s family no advanced warning. She simply got in her car and drove to Texas. Alone.
“I didn’t want my husband or my kids to go with me,” she said. “This was something I had to do.”
She arrived at a nice house. She got through the gate by saying, “I don’t need an appointment, he’ll want to meet me, I promise.”
In a few moments, a man came down the stairs. It was him all right. She would have known him anywhere. She’d watched him grow up in her mind’s eye.
“Do I know you?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “But I know you.”
“How?”
She began to cry. “It’s a very long story,” she said.The man, unexpectedly, began to cry along with her. He apparently understood what was going on here. “Are you my mother?” he said in a kind of shell shock.
All she could do was nod.
They embraced. And there on the porch of a sprawling Texan estate, they dehydrated themselves, snug in each other’s arms.
“I always knew you’d find me,” he said.
“How did you know?” she said.
“You’re going to think I’m crazy if I tell you.”
“Try me.”
“I’ve been dreaming about you every night since I was a baby.”
In an age when it’s hard to believe in anything good; when crisis and insanity rule the airwaves; when visions of hell are the only things television journalists can report on; I am glad— no, I am eternally grateful—for little old ladies in assisted living facilities who write extremely long emails.
Take a Family Road Trip
Get away for adventures in this small Georgia
town.
BY CHERITH GLOVER FLUKER
It’s May, which means my mind is already wandering to road trips, playlists, and cooler bags packed with snacks. Summer feels close enough to touch, and fall will be here before we know it. Now is the perfect time to start planning a getaway or two. Lately, I’ve been thinking about LaGrange, Georgia. Have you ever been? This West Georgia town is about two hours from Birmingham, which makes it the kind of destination that’s easy to reach but still makes for a great getaway.
The first time I visited LaGrange, my daughter and I were simply looking for a quiet motherdaughter escape. What we found was much more. We came home with a camera roll full of memories and a growing list of things to experience next time.
One of my favorite stops was Sweetland Amphitheatre (sweetlandamp.com). We timed our trip around one of their summer concerts, and I’m so glad we did. There’s something special about live music under the stars, especially when you’re lounging on a blanket and hanging out with your favorite people. It felt casual and fun all at once. The theatre hosts a variety of shows all summer long, ranging from nostalgic bands to kid-friendly sing-alongs. You’ll want to check the ampitheatre’s event calendar to see who’s playing during your stay.
Downtown LaGrange has a charming, walkable vibe I always look for when I want to slow down. We wandered in and out of boutiques and antique shops, picked up coffee from a local cafe, and ended up staying longer than we planned at a bookstore that felt like it had a story of its own (prettygoodbooks.net).
And if you’re into history or just love a good scenic view, Hills & Dales Estate (hillsanddales.org) is worth the detour. The gardens are peaceful, the house is stunning, and there’s something grounding about walking through a place that’s been so thoughtfully preserved.
Be sure to make some time for the Biblical History Center (biblicalhistorycenter.com), an archaeological museum exploring life in ancient
times. It surprised me how immersive and interesting it was. I didn’t expect to be so drawn in, but the guides are skilled storytellers who lead you through hands-on experiences that pull you into the stories behind the artifacts.
We wrapped up our trip with a visit to Great Wolf Lodge (greatwolf.com/georgia) because, let’s be honest, sometimes you just want to act like a kid again. Waterslides, lazy rivers, and funnel cake don’t exactly scream “relaxing,” but it was the kind of fun that makes you forget about your inbox and your to-do list.
LaGrange isn’t loud or flashy, but that’s part of what I love about it. It’s the kind of place where you can reconnect with your family at a slower pace. If you’re looking for a weekend that’s easy to plan but full of unexpected joy, LaGrange might just be your spot. For more information, visit whatcherithinks.com/things-to-do-in-lagrange-ga.
Stay Safe on the Road
Summer is ripe for road trips with the family, and the last thing you want to worry about is car trouble on the way to your destination. Regular maintenance and safety checks are important to keep up with, but we were also recently sent a handy tool that is perfect to stash in your vehicle for extra peace of mind! Stay ready for any minor inconvenience on the road with BoostHero, the ultimate all-in-one portable vehicle jumpstarter, flashlight, and 6,000mAh power bank. This compact device includes an impressive 800A peak
jump-starting power, meaning it can safely start vehicles up to 6.0L gas and 4.0L diesel engines. Its IP65 waterand dust-resistance makes it durable and handy for all road conditions. We highly recommend keeping this lightweight and versatile tool packed in your car all summer (and year!) long (available on amazon.com).
–Stephanie Gibson Lepore
SUMMER UNPLUGGED
How to balance screen time and why it’s important for your children’s eye health.
BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE
We live in a tech-heavy time, where children’s eyes are constantly on a digital device: tablets, laptops, phones. Sure, it’s the new “normal,” but it doesn’t come without consequence. Many kids are consistently complaining about symptoms that, at one time, applied mostly to adults who work full-time on computers, such as headaches, eye discomfort, distance blur, severely dry eyes, and excessive blinking. Studies have
also shown that the blink rate decreases during device use, which may interfere with tear film dynamics, causing dry eye symptoms. The rates of nearsightedness have increased worldwide, increasing the risk of retinal detachments, glaucoma, and other eye diseases.
The good news is, there are effective ways to combat a summer of screen time. While there is no proof that increased electronic time causes nearsightedness, experts do agree that time outside
Games are a great way to avoid screens while also spending time with friends and family. Jump in straight lines to capture and stack skippers in Skippity (MindWare). It’s a fast, easy-to-learn game! Strawberry Shortcake (Maestro Media) is a lively card game and bidding adventure that’s fun for everyone. Both available at amazon.com
is effective in preventing nearsightedness.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no screen time for children under two years old; one for children ages two through 12; and two hours per day for teens and adults.
As parents, we often hear “limit screen time”— but is that effective enough? According to Michael Rich, a pediatrician and director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, it’s most important to balance screen time and other activities. “The issue with screen time should not be that the time you spend on a screen is toxic, but that it is displacing something else. And if it is displacing something that is arguably a richer, more positive experience, then one should be thoughtful about that and make that choice,” he says.
Rich notes that because interactive media, games, and various sites are designed to make you lose track of time, it’s imperative to build days such that you’re intentionally including nonscreen time and not just putting a time limit on devices.
In Alabama, we’re often held back by the oppressive heat and humidity of the long summer, but creating an accessible outdoor environment can still go a long way when trying to avoid screens. For younger kiddos, consider a playset with swings
and slides or a sandbox or water table. If that’s not possible, make a list of the many public parks we have available here, and set a goal to visit as many as possible. You can even make a game out of ranking your favorites. Consider planting a garden—fruits and veggies or flowers—and taking care of it together. The website busytoddler.com offers lots of ideas for creative outdoor play.
Make family time a priority, and plan outings together so children feel involved: go camping (even if it’s just a night in the back yard!), unplug for a few days at the lake, spend the morning biking, slather on the sunscreen and go swimming. Look into summer camps that don’t allow devices and/or are focused on outdoor activities. Focus on the extra time summer offers to participate in activities that aren’t ideal during the school year.
Play dates are a great motivator for children to spend time outdoors—everything is better with a friend. Keep your yard stocked with bikes or scooters, balls (bouncy, soccer, tennis), frisbees, and outdoor games like PaddleSmash or yard Yahtzee.
Establish your summer screen rules ahead of time, and focus on the outdoors this summer. You won’t regret it!
From the
Classroom Kitchen to the
How Stacey Wolf turned a creative spark into Dash Bakery
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ASHLEY JOHNSON - SO FILLED WITH LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY
BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE
Wife and mom of two Stacey Wolf is baking more than just cookies—she’s crafting joy, one batch at a time. As the founder and creative force behind Dash Bakery, Stacey’s journey from early childhood educator to beloved neighborhood baker is as heartfelt as the sugar cookies she’s known for. What began as a small idea has become a sweet slice of community life, where homemade meets handmade, and every cookie tells a story.
Stacey and her husband, Bryan, both grew up in Prattville, and their story began in college. Three years after tying the knot in Birmingham in 2010, they made a move to Nashville. It was there that Stacey took her very first—and only—cookie-decorating class, not knowing that a simple hobby would one day evolve into a full-blown business. “I’ve always been crafty and loved cooking,” Stacey says, “but I wasn’t necessarily a baker.” Her desire to stay home full-time with children Kate, now 9, and Davis, 6, led her to press pause on her teaching career, and—as her kids grew older, “my
schedule allowed for time to focus on something small that could be a good, creative outlet for me. I enjoy doing things for others, and would often “practice” what I learned by making cookies for friends or my children.” Dash Bakery was born out of the encouragement of friends and neighbors. After Stacey handed out heart-shaped cookies one Valentine’s Day, the response was overwhelming. And so, in July 2022, she officially launched her cottage bakery.
Operating out of her home, Stacey has created a space where art, family, and faith intersect. Her decorated sugar cookies, each a tiny masterpiece, have become the centerpiece of birthday parties, baby showers, weddings, and every special moment in between. While she’s dabbled in other goodies like lemon cookie bites and homemade brownies, it’s her custom cookie orders that remain the crowd favorite— sometimes in batches as large as 500.
What sets Dash Bakery apart isn’t just the quality of the cookies, but also
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ASHLEY JOHNSON - SO FILLED WITH LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
the heart behind them. “I love using orders as an opportunity to pray for the families I’m baking for,” Stacey says. “I truly feel like the Lord has blessed my life by providing my wonderful community of customers, so it’s a way I can serve them in return.”
Her process is as thoughtful as it is creative. Some clients come with specific visions, while others rely on Stacey’s artistic interpretation. She collaborates with each customer to bring their ideas to life, always keeping her tried-and-true sugar cookie recipe at the center of it all. “I like to use cleaner ingredients, the kind I would feel good about feeding my own family,” she says. “I am naturally a pleaser, so my inspiration comes from the challenge of trying to create exactly what my customers envision, and I’ll tweak recipes to make them just right. That’s important to me.”
For Stacey, this is more than just a business—it’s a reflection of her values and joy in uplifting others. Whether she’s hosting a birthday party or experimenting with new treats for her neighbors, each endeavor is filled with
purpose. “From time to time, I hold cookie-decorating birthday parties, and I’ve held a few cake-decorating parties, as well—that’s a fun challenge because the icing is a completely different consistency. The combination of creating while helping others is what makes this little dream of a bakery so much fun!,” she says. Kate and Davis have become some of her biggest fans, proudly sharing their mom’s cookies with friends at school and helping out in small ways around the kitchen. “It’s sweet to see their excitement and involvement,” Stacey says. “And it’s fun to dream about what this little home bakery could become one day.”
As Stacey looks to the future, the possibilities for Dash Bakery are endless. For now, she’s content in her kitchen, rolling dough, piping icing, and pouring love into every order.
“I never imagined this would become what it is,” she says, “but I’m so thankful it has. It’s a gift to be able to share something I love with the people around me.”
For more information or to place an order, follow Dash Bakery on Instagram @dashbakery.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DASH BAKERY FACEBOOK
Treasure Reverence
In honor of all the moms who send us home with their passed-down pieces—and all the kids who bring home every single paper— here is how to consider what to save.
BY COLLEEN DIXON
When it comes to your possessions, what are the items you own that mean the most to you? All of us have things that are important to us. Some might have attachments to clothes or books, and others love to hold
on to their kids’ crafts or a collection of trinkets from travel. What we value most can vary from person to person, but we all have our treasures. This is why Treasure Reverence—what House Peace calls the process of discerning what is meaningful to you and honoring that—is so important. Do
PHOTOGRAPH BY DEBBY HUDSON ON UNSPLASH
you love your collection of books? Get a fun bookshelf so you can display your collection in a beautiful way. If your clothes are what matter, invest in good storage so you don’t bury and lose pieces that you love. Make a plan for the things that have meaning and are special to you, and get rid of the things that don’t hold significance in your life.
When it comes to decluttering, the temptation to throw out everything with reckless abandon often arises, especially when you realize just how much stuff you have. But that doesn’t mean you have to become a minimalist! Taking the extra time to name what matters to you instead can help you make a better plan for how to sort through your things and make space on the shelf for what you treasure most.
When my eldest (now 13) began preschool, we entered the “bringing papers home from school” phase of parenting. Every scribble was put in her backpack and then carefully placed by her on my kitchen counter. One day, she saw me notso-sneakily toss the pile of papers in the recycle bin and she, horrified, cried that all of those papers were special and shouldn’t be thrown away. My response to her was:
“If everything is special, then nothing is special.” I explained to her that I do look at the papers she brings home, and if there are ones that I believe are truly special, I hang onto them. The rest get tossed. I simply didn’t have enough space (or desire) to hold onto every little project she made at school. Now that we’re four kids deep and live in a smaller home, there’s absolutely no world in which I could keep all of the papers my kids bring home from school on a daily basis. I still look through all of them and hang onto the ones that I find special (writing their name in a new way, a handprint, a silly picture they drew or phrase they wrote that I want to remember), but most of them wind up in the recycling bin. The first time one of my sons brought home a 100% on a test, he asked if we could hang it on the fridge for a while because he was proud of it. We did, and then when it was no longer exciting, it ended up in the bin, too. I was once called “heartless” by someone who learned that I throw away most of their schoolwork (and all their baby teeth), but the reality is I’m quite sentimental—I just know what I find
PHOTOGRAPH BY ACTON CRAWFORD ON UNSPLASH
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21
valuable enough to hang onto and what I don’t, and I’m not going to waste time and space on saving things that don’t matter a lot to me.
There’s a misconception that all home organizers are minimalists and that we don’t support people having “stuff.” The truth is you might be surprised to see that in our homes there are things like rock collections, full bookshelves, full closets, and bins of sentimental items from our children. We have simply decided that these things hold value to us, and we’d like to hang onto them while letting go of the things that don’t. I don’t keep baby teeth because I think it’s kind of icky, but I do keep a few favorite articles of clothing from different baby and toddler sizes of my children because they hold incredible memories for me. The teeth take up far less room and, from an organizational perspective, are much easier to deal with, but they hold no meaning to me. The handful of baby clothes I’ve kept have been carefully stored in the attic.
After discerning what is a treasure to you, the next and equally important step in treasure reverence is to honor those items by displaying or
storing them properly. It is a waste and, frankly, very sad when someone discovers something meaningful to them that has been ruined due to improper storage. Depending on what your treasure is, there might be a very specific way that it should be kept while not in use, or it’s possible that your treasure would be best honored on display. My sister has hung onto a few items from our late grandparents, such as their mantel clock and wedding picture, and she likes to keep them on display in her home versus putting them in a box in the attic so she can look at them regularly and enjoy them.
If you have a collection, is there a way that your collection can be on display? If you love cookbooks, is there an open shelf in your kitchen where you can see and access them easily? Displaying your treasures is such a beautiful way to honor them. Clothing being hung properly is a simple, everyday example of treasure reverence. One of our favorite things to do on an organizing job is help people unearth and honor their treasures by clearing out items that have no meaning and helping them honor those items.
PHOTOGRAPH BY GABRIEL DALTON ON UNSPLASH
THE ULTIMATE GOAL
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF OREGON STATE ATHLETICS
Vestavia native is named head soccer coach at Oregon State
BY LOYD MCINTOSH
Vestavia Hills native Jarred Brookins is living his best life in Corvallis, Oregon, 2,500 miles away from his hometown. In March, Brookins was named head coach of the Oregon State men’s soccer team, one of the top collegiate soccer programs in the country.
Jared spent the last two years as an assistant under head coach Greg Dalby, who led the Beavers to their most successful season in program history, reaching the NCAA semifinals in 2023. In early 2025, Greg accepted the head coach position at Air Force, and—following an extensive search—Jared was tapped for the top job. During his tenure as an assistant coach, he found his coaching philosophy to be in sync with Greg’s, and he is looking forward to taking what they’ve built together to the next level.
“I was excited to work for Dalby,” Jared says. “Over the past few years, my love and appreciation for this place and how I identify with it has grown immensely, and I couldn’t be more honored to step into a new role here.”
Jared’s rise to the head coaching job at Oregon State wasn’t exactly scripted. He played soccer at Vestavia Hills High School (VHHS) and Vestavia Soccer Club
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25
before moving on to play collegiate soccer under head coach Preston Goldfarb at Birmingham-Southern. Jared got his first taste of coaching as an assistant at VHHS during college, working under legendary head coach Rick Grammer in 2014. He was on the sidelines for one of the best seasons in VHHS soccer history, as the Rebels finished 25-2-1 and captured their second consecutive state championship. After graduating from BSC, Jared accepted his first head coaching position, leading a youth team with Vestavia Soccer Club, primarily as a diversion from his full-time job as a chemical analyst for Alabama Power. “Coaching was never really the plan,” Jared admits. “I decided to pick up a club soccer team on the side, and, basically, at the end of year one, I realized that I really loved coaching. I really didn’t like working in a lab, and I had very little interest in going back to school.”
Jared spent the next five years coaching for Vestavia Soccer Club,
winning seven USYS Youth Soccer State Championships between 2014 and 2018, before moving on to assistant coaching gigs at the collegiate level, first at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and then at Davidson University in North Carolina. Now fully committed to the world of coaching, Jared knew it was time to kick his career to the next level. He ended up in Corvallis, coaching under Greg at one of the nation’s top programs. In the last five years, Oregon State has been an overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, advanced to an Elite 8 and a Final Four, and is only one of nine teams to compete in the last five NCAA tournaments. As he prepares for his first collegiate head coaching job, Jared understands the goal is to score goals—lots of them.
“The expectation is to consistently compete nationally, and that’s obviously a lot of pressure, but at the same time, that’s why I wanted it,” Jared says. “That’s why great players come here. They expect to compete at the highest level.”
Jared grew up in Vestavia Hills and is the son of Kathy and Bart Brookins, family pastor and senior pastor, respectively, at Fullness Christian Fellowship. Jared and his wife, Sarah, have two children, Leo (7) and Sophie (5).
PHOTO COURTESY OREGON STATE ATHLETICS
HCS Names New Director of Human Resources
Dr. Kerry Pate-Davison has been named HCS’s Executive Director of Human Resources. As a dedicated educator and administrator with over two decades of experience, Dr. Pate-Davison has been a vital part of the HCS team since 1999, serving in a variety of leadership roles that include human resources, school administration, school counseling, and classroom instruction.
Since 2018, she has served as the district’s Human Resources Coordinator, leading numerous district-wide initiatives, including strategic recruitment efforts, employee training programs, and process improvements that strengthened talent management and support systems across the district.
She has also served as an assistant principal at Brock’s Gap Intermediate School, a school counselor at Bumpus Middle, Greystone, and Shades Mountain Elementary Schools, and a middle school teacher at both Simmons and Bumpus Middle.
HCS Teachers in State’s Top 16
Two HCS teachers have made the field of 16 finalists for Alabama’s Teacher of the Year. Kristin Bundren, a science teacher at Spain Park High School, and Katie Collins, a 1st grade teacher at Bluff Park Elementary School, were named District III secondary and elementary teachers, respectively. They will advance and be considered for the state’s top honor for public school teachers.
Collins
Pate-Davidson Bundren
JCIB Students Compete in Problem Solvers State Bowl
Seven Jefferson County International Baccalaureate High School students traveled to Montgomery recently for the Future Problem Solvers State Bowl, taking home seven first place trophies, sweeping every category in which they entered. Each student received an invitation to advance to the international competition in June. Their sponsor is Ms. Gaines Marsh.
• Scenario Writing, senior division: Kahina Laouzai (second year as State Champion in this event)
• Team Global Issues Problem Solving, senior division: Aubrey Lake, Ashleigh Cox, Adrien Chavez, Declan Sitzman
• Individual Global Issues Problem Solving, middle division: Mikayla Fielder
• Individual Global Issues Problem Solving, senior division: Rachel Tucker
Shades Valley Student Named Rising Star
WBRC Fox6 News and America’s First Federal Credit Union named Shades Valley High School senior Jakai Dorsey a Rising Star. Jakai has a 4.05 GPA and is a member of Science Olympiad, Esports Team, National Society of High School Scholars, and the Computer Science Honor Society. He also works at Chick-fil-A. Fox6 hosted a spotlight segment about Jakai on the April 17 5 p.m. newscast.
Assistant Superintendent Announces Retirement
Aimee Rainey, Vestavia Hills City Schools Assistant Superintendent, announced she will be retiring July 1. She has been the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning since July 2019 and with the Vestavia school system for the past seven years. Rainey has been in education for a total of 26 years.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SCHOOL
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SHADES VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Student Named Area Winner in Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Program
The Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Scholarship program selected Altamont School student Raju Sudarshan as its 2025 winner for Area 3A of the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The program’s mission is to recognize students who, by ability and effort, have achieved excellence in both academics and athletics, and who motivate and encourage all segments of the student population to strive to be the best they can be.
In addition to being active in many school activities, Raju is one of three Altamont National Merit Scholar semifinalists this year and a multisport athlete with a distinguished record of achievement and leadership in cross country, indoor track, outdoor track, soccer, and tennis. Altamont Latin teacher Jamie Rediker has coached Raju as a runner for 11 seasons and nominated him for this year’s honor. “Raju’s resume in running is one of the most decorated in my 11 years of coaching,” Rediker wrote in his nomination. “Raju’s leadership in our running program has been superb. Electing him as boys’ team captain this year was a quick and easy decision— our team of 20-plus boys follows his guidance every practice, every race, every success, and every challenge. He is a cerebral athlete who deftly pairs his academic acumen with physical talent to maximize training and performance. Raju’s diligence in training is infectious, and our boys’ team collectively is one of my strongest ever because those behind him follow his example.”
– contributed by Sean Flynt
Altamont School Honored for Improving Female Representation
The Altamont School has earned the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science Principles (CSP). Award contenders must either have reached 50% or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or have achieved a percentage of female computer science exam takers that meets or exceeds that of the school’s female population.
In a statement announcing the honor, the College Board noted that although female students remain underrepresented in computer science classes nationally, the schools that earned this year’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award “serve as inspiration and are models for all U.S. high schools.”
According to College Board research, female students who take AP Computer Science Principles in high school are more than five times as likely to major in computer science in college, compared to female students of similar background and academic preparation who didn’t take AP CSP. Still, U.S. Department of Labor data reveals that women represent just 26.9% of the 6.5 million people employed in computer and mathematical occupations.
Altamont computer science teacher Joseph McKinley notes the irony of that underrepresentation. “Programming is a field pioneered by women and taken over by men,” he says. “It is important to have young women feel there is a place for them in computer science.”
Many other students are exploring the field, too. McKinley has seen continued growth in Altamont’s program over the last five years. “Computer science is an amazing opportunity for students with all interests and skills, and I am excited to have the ability to expand access to this knowledge for Altamont students.”
– contributed by Sean Flynt
PHOTOGRAPH
COURTESY OF THE ALTAMONT SCHOOL
Birmingham Barons
May 1-4, 13-18
Let’s play ball! Head out to Regions Field to catch a spring game. The Barons will play a home series against Pensacola May 1-4 before hitting the road for a stretch of away games. They’re back May 13-18. For tickets and more information, visit milb.com/ birmingham.
Sesame Street Live: Say Hello!
May 4
Join Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and their friends at the BJCC for Sesame Street Live! Say Hello. Sing, dance, and play alongside your favorite furry friends, all while you follow Elmo’s puppy, Tango, in a fun game of hide-and-seek. Two shows at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit bjcc.org.
Do Dah Day
May 17
This child-friendly, pet-focused music festival in the park continues this year at Cahaba Brewing Company. Bring the whole family to enjoy the sun, face-painting, crafts, live music, and more. The Do Dah Day, Inc. Board of Directors is comprised of community members and philanthropic and corporate sectors who are dedicated advocates for animals. For more information, visit dodahday.org.
Birmingham Taco Fest
May 18
Bare Hands, Inc. invites you to the eighth annual Birmingham Taco Fest, featuring top taco vendors and food trucks, desserts, music, dancing, community arts activities, a farm stand, and an art market! Judging begins at 12:15 p.m., and awards will be given in pork, beef, chicken, and specialty taco categories. A “People’s Choice” award will be chosen by attendees. Entry tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate; children 12 and under are free. Proceeds benefit Bare Hands, Inc.’s mission of collaborating with individuals and communities to create immersive arts experiences and arts education programs. For more information, visit barehandsinc.org/taco-fest.
2025 Jewish Food and Culture Fest
May 18
Some have called this beloved festival “the best oneday event the Jewish community has put on in Birmingham.” Come see for yourself at the Jewish Food and Culture Fest (held at the LJCC, 3960 Montclair Road), where you can try traditional foods prepared in a kosher kitchen—brisket, corned beef, babka, challah, couscous—visit the shuk, a small-scale re-creation of an Israeli open-air market, and enjoy live music, demos, and bounce houses for the kids. For more information, visit bhamjcc.org.
Bubble Bash!
May 27
Calling all kids, from toddlers through fifth grade: Put on your swimsuit, slap on some sunscreen, and celebrate the end of school and the start of summer reading at the Homewood Public Library’s annual Bubble Bash from 10:30 a.m. till noon in the library parking lot. For more information, visit homewoodpubliclibrary.org/events.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DO DAH DAY FACEBOOK
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE JEWISH FOOD AND CULTURE FEST, LJCC
In the little moments and major milestones of childhood, we are here for our patients and their families – helping, healing, teaching and discovering.
WHAT WE DO:
Identify juveniles who are either at high risk for or already involved in substance misuse and provide them resources to make better choices for a healthy lifestyle while promoting mental wellness.
PREVENTION:
Compact’s Community Coalitions educate, engage, and empower their communities at the local level to prevent substance misuse and provide resources to those impacted.
INTERVENTION:
Our Intervention Team works to educate parents and students as well as locate youth who are at risk of, or involved in substance misuse or addiction, and provide them help and resources.
