2007 Summer Alabama School Boards Magazine

CELEBRATING THE CAREER OF DR. SANDRA SIMS-DEGRAFFENRIED This Road of Life Learning Taking Place Our Iceberg Isn’t Melting Official Publication of the Alabama Association of School Boards

June 2007

Face-to-Face with Sen. Vivian Figures New Child Labor Rules Proposed DROUGHT ENDS: $6.7 Billion Education Budget and $1.1 Billion Bond Issue Passes Legislature Give Teachers the Gift of Time

OFFICERS Jim Methvin . . . . . . . . . . . . . President Alabama School of Fine Arts

June 2007 Vol. 28, No. 3

IN THIS ISSUE

Sue Helms . . . . . . . . . . President-Elect Madison City

COVER STORY

Florence Bellamy . . . . . Vice President Phenix City

HIGHLAND AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AMONG 26 TORCHBEARERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Tommy McDaniel . . . . . Past President Alabama School of Math and Science

It’s the last day of school. Principal Pat Kornegay of Montgomery County’s Highland Avenue Elementary School steps into a classroom. The students flash wide smiles, yell ‘hey, mama’ and run up to her with outstretched arms. More than a see-you-next-year hug, it’s a warm appreciative embrace for the principal who has led the high-poverty, high-achieving school to its third Torchbearer School award.

STAFF Sandra Sims-deGraffenried, Ed.D. Executive Director Sally Brewer Howell, J.D. Assistant Executive Director Denise L. Berkhalter Director of Public Relations Editor, Alabama School Boards Susan Rountree Salter Director of Membership Services

From the Staff’s Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The Torchbearers: 2006-07 Award Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 FEATURES

Tammy Wright Executive Assistant

Raise the Bar a Little Higher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Celebrating the Career of Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried . . . . . . . 10 This Road of Life — By Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried . . . . . . 12 Learning Taking Place: A Tribute to Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Our Iceberg Isn’t Melting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Give Teachers the Gift of Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Drought Ends: $6.7 Billion Education Budget and $1.1 Billion Bond Issue Passes Legislature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Face to Face with Sen. Vivian Davis Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Aeryca Ezell Clerical Assistant

DEPARTMENTS

Lissa Astilla Tucker Director of Governmental Relations Debora Hendricks Administrative Assistant Donna Norris Administrative Assistant Kay Shaw Bookkeeper Lashana Summerlin Receptionist

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Patsy Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 1 Monroe County Steven Foster . . . . . . . . . . . . District 2 Lowndes County Jeff Bailey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 3 Covington County Katy S. Campbell . . . . . . . . . District 4 Macon County Jennifer Parsons . . . . . . . . . . District 5 Jefferson County Sue Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 6 Jacksonville Susan Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 7 Winfield Dr. Charles Elliott . . . . . . . . . District 8 Decatur Laura Casey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 9 Albertville Sandra Ray . . . . . . . . . . . . State Board Tuscaloosa

Alabama Education News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Education & the Law: New Child Labor Rules Proposed . . . . . . . 7 At the Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Potpourri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 PUBLICATION POLICY Alabama School Boards is published by the Alabama Association of School Boards as a service to its member school boards. The articles published in each issue represent the ideas or beliefs of the writers and are not necessarily the views of the Alabama Association of School Boards. Subscriptions sent to members of school boards are included in membership dues, and complimentary copies are sent to public school principals throughout the state. Additional subscriptions can be obtained by contacting AASB. Entered as third-class mail at Montgomery, AL. Permit No. 34.

Alabama School Boards is designed by J. Durham Design, L.L.C., Montgomery, AL. Address all editorial and advertising inquiries to: Alabama School Boards, Editor, P.O. Drawer 230488, Montgomery, AL 36123-0488. Phone: 334/277-9700.

Alabama School Boards • June 2007 3

Alabama Education News NASA Astronaut Higginbotham Visits Alabama Schools NASA astronaut Joan E. Higginbotham visited students at Tuscaloosa’s Paul W. Bryant High School in Cottondale and Greene County’s Eutaw Primary School in Eutaw in May. She spoke about her career, experiences as an astronaut and her recent space mission.

Higginbotham, a Chicago native, motivated students with details of her first spaceflight aboard Discovery in December 2006 on a 13-day mission to the International Space Station. During the flight, Higginbotham operated the station’s robotic arm.

If you would like information on how to bring an astronaut to your schools, contact Dana Davis of NASA Astronaut Joan Higginbotham (center) met with Tuscaloosa’s Paul W. Bryant High School senior class NASA’s Astronaut officers recently. The 2007 officers are (left to right) Appearances Office Ahzshaka Evans, Lindsay Starks, Hannah Essary and at 281/244-0933.

Mallory Meissner.)

NASA’s Joan E. Higginbotham became an astronaut in 1996.

Winner of 2007 Statewide Parental Involvement Poster Contest Announced Teron Dukes, a fifth-grade student at Cleburne County Middle School, and his family are winners. The Cleburne County student’s artwork will grace billboards throughout the state inviting Alabama parents to visit their child’s school.

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton recently announced Dukes’ poster — this year’s theme poster for Parent Visitation Month in October — and the posters of 11 other Alabama families have been selected for recognition in the 2007 Statewide Family Poster Contest on

4 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

Parental Involvement. The 11 additional posters will be displayed, along with the statewide winner, at the 2007 MEGA Conference this summer in Mobile and will become a part of the 2007-2008 Alabama Parent and Family Involvement Calendar, which will be placed online at www.alsde.edu beginning in September.

The contest is designed to raise awareness of the key role parents and families play in the education of their children. Posters were judged according to how well they communicated the 2007-2008 theme: Parents—The Link to Success. The winning families, their local school and school board include: the family of Bob Bismonte, Greensboro West High School, Hale County; the family of Jessie Caraway, Huxford Elementary School, Escambia County; the family of Teron Dukes, Cleburne County Middle School, Cleburne County; the family of Ashlyn Irvin, Haleyville Elementary School, Haleyville; the family of Mitch Nolte, Saks Middle School, Calhoun County; the family of Sera Oglesby, Prattville High School, Autauga County; the family of Terrence Pierson, Bullock County High School; the family of Myah Piper, Fairfax Elementary School, Chambers County; the family of Tyler Reynolds, Section School, Jackson County; the family of Warren Smith, Jackson-Olin High School, Birmingham; the family of Katherine Wester, Oneonta Elementary School, Oneonta; and the family of Stephanie Witt, Cleveland Elementary School, Blount County.

Voters Said Yes to Constitutional Amendments Amendment 1 won 80 percent approval for increasing the bonding cap authorized for the Capital Improvement Trust Fund from $350 million to $750 million. The amendment also provides the resources for the state to continue offering economic incentives to new and existing businesses considering locating or expanding in Alabama.

Amendment 2, designed to protect Alabama’s investments and financial strength, received an 84 percent yes vote at the ballot box. The amendment establishes two irrevocable trust funds, which will be used solely to fund future health care obligations for Alabama’s public employees. It also ensures the availability of money to meet the health care needs of retired public employees and help protect Alabama’s position with bond rating agencies.

Both amendments passed the Alabama Legislature unanimously in March.

Keep Your School Board Deposits SAFE The Security for Alabama Funds Enhancement, or SAFE Program, provides a uniform program for the security of public funds deposited with qualifying financial institutions in Alabama. It is administered by State Treasurer Kay Ivey’s office.

Effective Jan. 1, 2001, any bank or financial institution in the state that accepts any deposits of public funds is required to be a member in good standing of the SAFE Program. They are further required under SAFE Law to insure those public funds by pledging eligible collateral to the state treasurer for the SAFE collateral pool. In this way, the SAFE Program serves as additional insurance above and beyond the FDIC insurance coverage.

Public depositors, such as school boards, also bear responsibility under the SAFE Law. As a public depositor you are required to ensure that your deposits meet

Build Your Leadership Team Skills at July 29-31 Summer Conference Summer Conference 2007 will help you hone your leadership, teamwork and crisismanagement skills to create a rock-solid governance team. Whether you’re new to the board or a long-time member, the July 29-31 conference at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach will provide insights and skills you can use even before you shake all the sand out of your luggage.

Learn from Two Renowned Team Trainers.

Michael Cheney, CEO of Persogenics, will help you identify your own personality and leadership styles and learn to work with team members who have very different styles. To get the most out of this session, all attendees are asked to complete an online personality profile assessment available at http://www.persogenics.com/modules.php?name=Persogen ics&file=registration, print the results and bring them to the conference.

Speaker Larry Johnson will focus his training on the ways team members communicate and the impact that has on the whole organization. The conference will also include a panel discussion with education leaders who survived serious crises this past school year.

Among the many special highlights of this year’s conference is Sunday evening’s Beach Blast Reception and Monday’s Academy Awards Luncheon.

The reception will include a chance to greet your colleagues, meet AASB’s new executive director and bid farewell to retiring Executive Director Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried, who will be back for this special event. Those who achieved Level 4 in AASB’s School Board Member Academy or earned Master Level or Master’s Honor Roll this year will be recognized at the special awards luncheon that replaces the recognition usually made at AASB’s annual convention.

Following Summer Conference will be a July 31-Aug. 1 Leadership I course, part of AASB’s orientation for new school board members and new superintendents.

Registration information has been mailed to all AASB members, or you can register online at www.TheAASB.org. Housing information is also online or see the inside of this magazine’s cover for further details.

(Continued on page 6) Alabama School Boards • June 2007 5

Alabama Education News Continued from page 5

the definition of a public deposit. Public deposits are defined as funds of the various governmental units of the state or covered public official deposited in a bank or financial institution, such as time deposit accounts, demand deposit accounts and certificates of deposits. Funds not defined as public deposits include, but are not limited to, bonds, notes, money market mutual funds, repurchase agreements and similar instruments.

Public depositors are also required to ensure that the financial institution in which deposits are made is a Qualified Public Depository in the SAFE Program.

Each financial institution that has met all the necessary requirements of the SAFE Program to accept and retain public deposits will receive a “Certificate of Qualified Public Depository.” You may ask your bank for a copy of this certification for your files. All Qualified Public Depositories are listed on the state treasury’s Web site www.treasury.alabama.gov.

Direct questions concerning the SAFE Program to Mickey Daughtry, director, at 334/353-3927.

Alcohol Tests Earn Entry to Prom Using alcohol meters to crack down on drinking at proms, graduations and school dances appears to be a growing trend, reports The Public Education Network.

Breathalyzers are being used in this way at some Michigan high schools, reports the Detroit News, where many parents welcome the tests as a way to lower the potential for drunken-driving crashes. Critics, however, argue the tests could be used to unfairly target some kids and result in overly harsh consequences.

Whether used only if drinking is suspected, randomly or on all students, some parents and administrators reportedly think the Breathalyzers are just another tool for discouraging underage drinking.

6 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

Magna Awards Nominations Now Being Accepted Would you like to win a national award for one of your system’s innovative programs?

American School Board Journal is accepting nominations online for the 2008 Magna Awards through Oct.1. Presented in cooperation with Sodexho School Services, winners of the Magna Awards receive national recognition in a special supplement to ASBJ and are honored at a luncheon at the National School Boards Association’s annual conference.

Awards are handed out in three enrollment categories — under 5,000 enrollment, 5,001 to 20,000, and more than 20,000. Grand prize winners in each category receive a $3,500 cash award from Sodexho.

To fill out an application, visit www.asbj.com/magna. Nominations this year are being accepted only online. For more information, call 703/838-6739.

‘Inside Out’ Prison Documentary to Curb School Dropout Rates The idea is to make students think twice about dropping out of school and making other poor life choices that could in some cases lead to life behind bars.

“Inside Out’ is a 34-minute documentary that features prison inmates promoting education as a way for youth to avoid prison. The emotionally charged film with one powerful message — stay in school — was made in two Alabama prisons and debuted in early May in conjunction with a nationwide campaign to slow the nation’s high school dropout rate.

The documentary’s stars are inmates serving life sentences or life without parole. Their personal stories of regret are meant to inspire youngsters to graduate and avoid the pitfalls of dropping out of school. The film is a production of Birmingham-based marketing firm O2 Ideas and the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes literacy and seeks to curtail the national dropout rate.

Available for classroom viewing, the documentary is being made available to schools, churches, youth clubs and com-

munity groups throughout Alabama and across the country. The movie trailer can be viewed online at www.insideoutmovie. com/preview.html.

For copies of the free “Inside Out” DVD (though shipping and handling may be charged) or details, contact Lestine Hawkins at 205/949-9494.

DVD Helps Schools Talk about Bullying Bullies can cause havoc in schools.

Help for schoolchildren who face difficulties with anger management and peer pressure is available in the form of a new DVD produced by the Mental Health Association of West Alabama in collaboration with the University of Alabama.

“Choices,” according to the Tuscaloosa News, targets K-8 students. Free copies are being distributed not only to elementary and middle schools in Tuscaloosa, but also to Alabama’s city and county school boards, all state school boards in the United States, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program. The DVD sells for $15 each.

The lessons in anger management benefit bullies and victims of bullying and provides counselors with more realistic tools for teaching conflict resolution, officials said. The film, conceived (Continued on page 9)

Education&the Law New Child Labor Rules Proposed Excerpt from NSBA News Clips

The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed new rules associated with child labor related to 14- and 15-yearolds, a number of which affect school systems. pecifically, under the current work study regulations, 14and 15-year-olds can only work three hours on any day school is in session. Based on the success of a college prep high school that allowed 14- and 15-year-old students to work more, the Labor Department is proposing to allow public schools to offer a work-study program where 14- and 15-year-old students can work up to 18 hours a week in accordance with the following formula based on a four-week cycle. In three of the four weeks, students could work up to eight hours on one school day.

During the remaining week, students could work up to eight hours on two school days. A school system would have to apply for permission from the Labor Department. Students would have to receive the minimum number of classroom instruction hours.

A teacher coordinator would have to supervise the program, and employers and parents would have to agree in writing to certain conditions.

The proposed rules also may affect school systems as employers. For example, the proposed regulations allow 14- and 15-yearolds to engage in a wider variety of work, including office and clerical work, in a wider range of industries than retail, food service, and gasoline service. Also, the proposed regulations allow 15-year-olds to be employed as lifeguards at school system swimming pools as long as they are certified. The Department of Labor has requested comments on the proposed rules by July 16.

The department has also requested comments on child labor rules related to occupations particularly hazardous for or detrimental to the health or well-being of employees under 18 years of age. Fourteen- to 17-year-olds are prohibited from working in 17 hazardous occupations, with limited exemptions permitting 16- and 17-year-olds to work as apprentices and student learners under certain conditions in a number of these hazardous occupations. Students must be enrolled in such student-learner programs through public or private schools.

In a related matter, the Labor Department commissioned a report assessing current workplace hazards and the adequacy of the hazardous occupations exemptions, which makes a number of recommendations. The department is also seeking input regarding those recommendations. Many of the topics which the department seeks input about are very technical, such as the use of power-driven machines; however, the department also seeks com-

S

ments on less technical subjects, such as what criteria should be used to determine when an exemption for student-learners is appropriate and whether the current limits on hazardous work and the required supervision of such work sufficiently protect young workers.

ASB Editor’s Note: To submit electronic comments on the proposed rule changes, go to www.regulations.gov [RIN docket numbers (1215-AB57) and (1215-AB44)]. Comments must be submitted by July 16. For additional information on the proposed rules, visit the Wage and Hour Division home page at www.wagehour.dol.gov. For compliance information on the current child labor rules, see the YouthRules! Web site at www.youthrules.dol.gov. ▲ Reprinted with permission from NSBA Legal Clips, a weekly e-newsletter of the National School Boards Association. Free subscriptions available at www.nsba.org/legalclips.

Alabama School Boards • June 2007 7

Raise the Bar a Little Higher

By Pamela Harman As the 2007-08 Alabama Teacher of the Year, I will spend the next year championing a cause that I believe to be important not only within the state but on the national level as well. That cause is the need to consistently raise education standards, promote accountability in the classroom to ensure increased achievement for all students and stress the importance of professional development to better enable our educators to accomplish this objective.

"By maintaining an everincreasing standard of excellence for ourselves and our students, supported by appropriate training of our educators, we can all do our part to help raise the bar."

8 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

S

erving as Alabama Teacher of the Year affords me a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I commit myself to fully leveraging. Through articles such as this, speaking engagements and workshops, it is my hope that I will be able to enliven this cause and in short-time evolve this philosophy into an uncompromised expectation within the state, the leaders within our respective communities and those I represent.

To my peers: As professionals, we will need to be willing to dedicate the time needed to improve ourselves as educators and managers of education. I believe an important step is the pursuit of quality professional development that is appropriate to our individual needs.

For some, this may be the decision to seek National Board Certification. For others, it may be necessary to learn another language to help assist the ever-growing number of students who speak English as a second language. Additionally, we need to remain focused on, and hold each other accountable for, the learning experience within our classrooms. With the ever-increasing diversity of students in our classrooms, we must be willing to develop a differentiated learning plan that allows us to reach and challenge each student at his or her individual level of potential. We must provide our students, regardless of their ability, with the support and encouragement they need to achieve at their greatest potential. Equally important, we must encourage each other to stand firm when some of our students opt for a path of lesser effort.

To the school board members and superintendents: I believe your role in helping to develop this philosophy into an uncompromised expectation within the community you represent is threefold.

First, I believe the most important way you can support the educators within your community is to provide opportunity for the individualized professional development we seek. It is important to understand that like our students, we have unique needs. The benefits of providing individualized professional development are very much in line with the benefits of differentiated learning we strive to provide in the classroom. By providing opportunity for individualized professional development rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, you enable every educator to pursue an activity that reflects a personal or professional goal appropriate to his or

her individual need, and you ensure a more significant impact on the overall learning experience for our students.

Secondly, you must be willing to provide compensation and release time to encourage the pursuit of quality professional development. Many educators are already doing as much as they can in a school day and do not have time to add additional activities into their already event-filled lives. Release time to pursue professional development would help encourage those who cannot fit an additional activity into their day to pursue the developmental activities that they would otherwise miss.

Finally, I encourage you to be willing to hold yourselves to an ever-increasing level of accountability. Are you actively monitoring the professional development activities offered within your school system? Do the professional development activities meet the needs of the individual educator?

Do you demand quality instruction for every student, regardless of ability? Do you have open lines of communication with your teachers and principals? Are your classroom sizes within your schools appropriate to allow teachers to work equally with all students? If you answer no to any of this, I encourage you to ask yourselves: Why not?

Too many times, the bar of expectation we hold ourselves and our students to is too low. One only needs to look at the latest ACT Readiness Benchmark scores to see that, on the whole, we are not adequately preparing our students to be successful in college. By maintaining an ever-increasing standard of excellence for ourselves and our students, supported by appropriate training of our educators, we can all do our part to help raise the bar. I fully intend to do my part and raise the bar a little higher this year. Can I count on you to hold the other side of the bar with me? ▲ Pamela Harman is a National Board Certified Teacher and the 2007-08 Alabama Teacher of the Year. She teaches at Spain Park High School in Hoover.

Continued from page 6

include such school events as sports activities, theatrical and musical performances, open houses and more.

in 2003, was funded in 2005 by a $25,000 grant from the Alabama Council of Developmental Disabilities.

To order DVDs or find out more, contact Toni Welbourne of Mental Health Association of West Alabama at 205/752-2689.

Toyota International Teacher Program to Costa Rica

Alabama Education News

Online ‘Gradcasts’ Provide Front Row Seat to Commencement The Public Education Network reports the latest trend in sharing a graduate’s special moment with families. An increasing number of school systems are broadcasting commencement ceremonies online, allowing graduates’ family and friends to watch the streaming video live.

Other uses for the low-cost, Webbased technology being bandied about

The Institute of International Education recently announced that applications are available for the 2008 Toyota International Teacher Program to Costa Rica.

This year all full-time classroom teachers in grades 7-12 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply.

Selected participants will have the opportunity to learn through hands-on projects about the environment, culture, history and education system of Costa Rica while traveling on the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica.

The application is online at www.iie. org/toyota. The deadline is Sept. 7. For details, send e-mail to toyotateach@ iie.org or call 877/832-2457. ▲

2007 T+L Registration is Now Open!

Register now for the Oct. 17-19 T+L Conference for education technology leaders, presented by the National School Boards Association. The event featuring “six big ideas” will be in Nashville at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

Those ideas are: one-to-one initiatives, tools for the classroom, 21st century skills, using data to improve student achievement, professional development and open source initiatives.

Organizers say attendees can expect a whole new technology learning experience with thought-provoking keynote speakers, hot topic breakfast speakers, district workshops, mini-academies, site visits, field trips, a resourcerich exhibit floor and unique events to help attendees network.

The conference organizers also encourage you to nominate new, emerging leaders in your school systems who use the power of technology to enhance education. Twenty emerging education technology leaders will be selected for the 2007 Twenty to Watch list and highlighted at this year’s T+L Conference. These emerging leaders — like today’s education technology pioneers — cross all job titles and district sizes. The nomination deadline is Aug. 1.

To register for the 2007 T+L Conference or to nominate a Twenty to Watch education technology leader, go to http://www.nsba.org/t+l/ online.

Alabama School Boards • June 2007 9

Celebrating the Career of Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried Alabama Association of School Boards Executive Director Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried was joined by more than 160 association members, family, friends, colleagues and dignitaries at a May 23 retirement reception in her honor.

D

r. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried will retire as AASB’s executive director June 30 after serving more than 40 years in public education, including 19 years at AASB’s helm and 19 years as a teacher in Morgan and Lawrence counties, as a guidance counselor and as central office supervisor in Decatur.

“Thank you for being my friends all these years,” Sims-deGraffenried told attendees at the reception at the RSA Plaza Terrace in Montgomery. She asked for their continued friendship and thanked them for participating in her special day. “The fact that you are here means an awful lot to me.

10 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

Working with school boards across the state has been a wonderful job, the most fun job and important job I’ve had.”

Laughter rose from the audience as the accomplished leader said she would rather leave when “people say to you, ‘why are you retiring,’ rather than, ‘why don’t you retire.’”

She recognized her education association peers and thanked legislators for 22 years of an amicable working relationship.

“It’s been a pleasure,” Sims-deGraffenried told her legislative friends. “We haven’t always agreed, but we disagreed agreeably.” The honoree also acknowledged the presence of her former Decatur schools superintendent, Dr. Bryon Nelson.

Among the many attendees offering Sims-deGraffenried hugs, handshakes and endearing words were state Board of Education members Dr. Mary Jane Caylor, Dr. Ethel Hall, Randy McKinney and Vice President Sandra Ray; state Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton; retired state Superintendent of Education Dr. Wayne Teague; state Treasurer Kay Ivey; Rep. Richard Lindsey; Rep. Mac Gipson; Alabama Education Association Executive Secretary Dr. Paul Hubbert; and School Superintendents of Alabama Executive Director Dr. Susan Lockwood.

Members of the AASB family were also present, including AASB President Jim Methvin; AASB Vice President Florence Bellamy;

former National School Boards Association and AASB board member Robert Lane; and former district directors Lucy Box, Henry Rookis, Willene Whatley, Harold White and Harry Williams.

“Sandra is a very special person, a role model ... one who truly cares about others.

She has high integrity, sound moral character, and she’s always so very positive,” Methvin said. “Sandra, I want you to know that you are respected and appreciated by all of us. We thank you.”

At the reception, state Finance Director Jim Main presented Sims-deGraffenried with a framed commendation from the governor.

“Sandra, we do appreciate you. You know, I don’t think I could draw this large of a crowd unless it was an open casket,” quipped Main, before reading the commendation. “‘A gifted and talented educator, Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried is an exemplary Alabamian who has faithfully served her state, family and community. Now therefore, I Bob Riley, governor of Alabama, do commend Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried on her retirement as executive director of the Alabama Association of School Boards and extend to her my sincerest best wishes for her future endeavors.’”

Ivey praised Sims-deGraffenried because she is “passionate in her leadership efforts to empower members of local school boards to be effective” and because of “her exemplary standards of conduct and leadership.” Ivey then hailed SimsdeGraffenried as an Alabama treasure.

Speaker of the House Seth Hammett and Sen. Larry Dixon presented SimsdeGraffenried with an Alabama House and Senate joint resolution that describes her as “a powerful advocate for children, school board members and public education, highly respected by her colleagues.”

“Sen. Dixon and I are glad to be here on behalf of all the members of the House and Senate and are honored to present this res-

olution to you Sandra ... ‘for your contributions to education improvement in the state of Alabama,’” Hammett said.

Dixon praised her for providing years of annual briefings for legislators on the state education budgeting process and emerging issues affecting K-12 public education.

“Of course, I always looked forward to the annual fanny-chewing that she administered to me, as well,” Dixon joked.

“Sandra, I just want to congratulate you on a career well-spent.”

Sims-deGraffenried first joined the AASB staff in 1985 as assistant executive director. She became executive director in 1988, breaking ground as the first female executive director of a major Alabama education organization and the first female school boards association executive director in the Southeast.

While leading AASB, Sims-deGraffenried strengthened the association’s finances, solidified membership, increased the association’s visibility in the advocacy and legislative arena, and developed an extensive professional development program for school board members.

She earned respect at the Alabama State House for persistently defending schoolchildren and local control of public schools. But her hardest-fought and longest battle centered on the need to limit state education funding to public schools and colleges. That effort included

In appreciation of her distinguished career serving Alabama’s public school systems, Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried received gifts and commendations (inset) from friends and offices of state government, including a joint resolution from the state Legislature presented by Sen. Larry Dixon and Seth Hammett, Speaker of the House.

a lawsuit challenging the state’s funding of private schools, charities and other non-public, non-education programs at a time when public schools lacked adequate funding for educational necessities.

Though the effort was not popular, lawmakers did eventually remove virtually all such schools and programs from the Education Trust Fund.

In 2004, the AASB leadership recognized Sims-deGraffenried for the success of the long-running campaign by awarding her the Champion for Children Award. She also has been recognized twice by the American Society of Association Execu-

“A gifted and talented educator, Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried is an exemplary Alabamian who has faithfully served her state, family and community. Now therefore, I Bob Riley, governor of Alabama, do commend Dr. Sandra SimsdeGraffenried on her retirement as executive director of the Alabama Association of School Boards and extend to her my sincerest best wishes for her future endeavors.”

— Bob Riley, governor of Alabama

tives — first with a national award in governmental relations and later with one for statewide training programs she developed for school board members. The Thomas A. Shannon Leadership Award for excellence in school board association leadership annually recognizes one staff member of a state association for extraordinary efforts performed on behalf of their association. It is a prestigious award among school board associations and considered the pinnacle of achievement. In 2005, Sims-deGraffenried was the recipient of NSBA’s Thomas A. Shannon Leadership Award.

In addition to her service to school boards across the state, Sims-deGraffenried has served the National School Boards Association in numerous capacities. She has been chairman of NSBA’s Liaison Committee, an ex officio member of the NSBA Board of Directors, and twice served as secretary-treasurer of the NSBA/Southern Region.

Recognized as a foremost leader and expert in public K-12 education, SimsdeGraffenried serves as Education Commission of the States Commissioner and as a board member of the Southern Regional Education Board. She has also served on the board for the Southeastern Regional Vision for Education.

Sims-deGraffenried was married to the ▲ late Ryan deGraffenried Jr. (See related articles on the following pages 12-15.)

Alabama School Boards • June 2007 11

This Road of Life

By Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried

Life is full of crossroads, and I find myself at another one — a very big one with many attractions at the intersection.

As I pause, I remember that I've always said one should look at life through the windshield and not through the rearview mirror. ut, as I sit at this huge intersection, I must look backward a bit because there are so many important, meaningful events that got me where I am.

When I started my career in education as a senior high school English teacher Nov. 16, 1966, I never dreamed where the path would lead me. And, it led me to the most enjoyable, rewarding, exhausting and exhilarating job I have ever had.

I have always been one to set personal goals and assess those every five years. When I came to work for you in 1985, I promised the then-executive director only three to five years — because I wanted to be a superintendent. Well, in three years he retired, and the rest is history.

Looking through this rearview mirror, I see many things I’m very proud of and here are just a few:

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▲ Designing and implementing the AASB School Board

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▲ ▲

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Member Academy that has been so successful — more so than I could imagine in my wildest dreams. So successful, that it received a national award.

Seeking and obtaining nearly $1.3 million in grant money to reimburse school boards for members participating in professional development.

Attaining 100 percent membership of school boards in AASB and sustaining it all these years!

Organizing a monumental legislative initiative that garnered AASB a national award and yielded millions of unexpected dollars for local school boards.

Implementing the Medicaid claiming program that has recaptured over $55 million for local boards and has tremendous potential for much more in the coming years.

Leading the charge in 1988 that ultimately

12 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

led to the establishment of a state Proration Prevention Account through the legislative process. ▲ Being one of a handful of executive directors receiving the

prestigious Thomas A. Shannon Award for excellence in school boards association leadership from the National Schools Boards Association. ▲ Receiving the coveted Champion for Children Award from AASB! Other things I reflect on that are just as important: ▲ Meeting and greeting thousands of people as your “ambassador.” Those friendships will endure.

“When my road finally ends, I hope these words mark the spot: She was a Champion for Children Who Made a Difference!’

— Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried ▲ Discovering that school board

members are a dedicated, delightful group of folks to work with!

Since I am an only child, you became my family! ▲ Putting together a strong, energetic, creative and caring staff. They will be hard to leave! ▲ Having years of wonderful officers

and directors with vision, warmth, commitment and support governing the association. ▲ Enjoying the love and support of my family, which enabled me to focus on the job to the fullest.

While I am retiring from AASB, I am not retiring my interest in and commitment to public education and the great state of Alabama. I will still be an active advocate, for I have a debt to pay.

All the successes I have enjoyed are because of the public education I received in Alabama.

Having lost my mother, a dear friend, my sister-in-law and my husband in less than 11 months, I know it’s time to pause at this intersection and choose another direction.

Please watch for me on this road of life — our paths will surely cross, for we care about the same things and are committed to them.

When my road finally ends, I hope these words mark the spot: She was a Champion For Children Who Made a Difference!!!

I challenge you to continue to make a difference in public education in Alabama. That’s your legacy.

Thank you for allowing me to work with you! ▲ Alabama School Boards • June 2007 13

LEARNING TAKING PLACE: A Tribute to Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried

By AASB Officers Florence Bellamy, Sue Helms, Tommy McDaniel and Jim Methvin The words “Learning Taking Place” are the legacy of Sandra in her work as executive director of the Alabama Association of School Boards. She has worked her entire life to ensure that learning is taking place in Alabama schools. She has encouraged school board members to give 110 percent for the children we serve. School board members from across the state are very thankful for Sandra's guidance and leadership.

In her 19 years as AASB’s executive director, Sandra has had many career accomplishments. ▲ Under her leadership, every single local school board in Alabama has been an AASB member. ▲ Sandra is the creator of AASB’s School Board Member Academy, which has won national recognition. ▲ Sandra led the charge to help local school boards recapture dollars spent related to special needs children. This program has already returned some $55 million to Alabama schools. ▲ Sandra worked tirelessly with the Legislature to protect the Education Trust Fund and create a state proration prevention account. Today there are two accounts — exceeding $600 million in total — set aside should the rainy days of proration return.

Sandra has been a leader with the National School Boards Association. She is well respected among her peers — fellow state association executive directors she has mentored.

She is well respected with NSBA’s management because she has served as a resource. And, she is well respected by school board members across the country for her leadership.

Sandra received NSBA’s most prestigious recognition, the Thomas A. Shannon Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership for state school boards associations.

AASB also recognized Sandra’s incredible leadership by giving her our highest honor — the Champion for Children Award.

The following quotes from several of Sandra’s colleagues truly define her character and reasons for success: 14 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

“Courage becomes an over arching requirement when great vision meets obstacles of historic and pervasive dimensions.”

— Donald Sweeney school board attorney

“Sandra never waits to see if someone else will tackle the problem. She is always tackling the problem and leading the charge.”

— Dr. Susan Lockwood School Superintendents of Alabama executive director

“Sandra is a strong, intelligent, strategic leader.”

— Bradley Byrne Former state senator and chancellor of the Alabama College System

“Her warmth and humor are her trademarks. She is a remarkable person.”

— Dan Farley Arkansas School Boards Association executive director

Sandra is indeed a remarkable individual who truly cares about others, has high standards of personal integrity, has sound moral character, and is always so positive. She is a friend to so many people.

All of these key words are the foundation of Sandra’s work ethic and being. Importantly, these words are the reasons that Sandra has been so very successful in leading our association and ensuring that learning is indeed taking place in our schools. ▲

Our Iceberg Isn’t Melting

By Jim Methvin, AASB President

AASB MISSION STATEMENT

Helping local education leaders improve student achievement through advocacy for Alabama’s public school students; leadership development and board training; and resources for effective education governance.

— Approved March 9, 2007

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ur iceberg isn’t melting” is a phrase that can characterize the Alabama Association of School Boards at this time. Our association is so well grounded in its mission that it continues to remain stable and successful for several reasons. ▲ During the last two decades, AASB Executive Director Dr. Sandra SimsdeGraffenried has built a strong association. ▲ AASB has a newly adopted mission statement that establishes its purpose and leadership direction. Leadership

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principles from Jim Collins’ “Good to Great” and from The Disney Institute were utilized in formulating the statement. Importantly, this new vision statement unites the association’s goals and objectives. ▲ AASB’s membership is comprised of interested, enthusiastic and dedicated individuals from across the state with a central goal of supporting and improving public education. ▲ The AASB Board of Directors has worked attentively, determinedly and thoroughly to select a new executive director who will be a dynamic leader and who has the knowledge, skills and abilities to continue to move the association forward.

The directors worked together, making use of each other’s varied strengths, to successfully address this “change” in our association. I am reminded of the fable in the 2005 leadership book, “Our Iceberg is Melting — Changing and Succeeding

Under Any Conditions,” by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber.

School board members can easily identify with the characters in this book. The ways in which the characters interact, learn from each other and support one another provide lessons for all of us, because working together is one key to successfully addressing the education needs in our communities.

The fable is simple, emphasizing the thought — “I don’t see a change!” — in a context of a melting iceberg and its penguin inhabitants. However, in the face of a change, the penguins pull together as a team.

This easy-to-read, short book intertwines eight leadership principles for thinking, feeling and successfully addressing changes in organizations. Changes can be in any form: charting the course, aligning one’s mission, gaining public support, eliminating inefficiencies or improving the quality of services.

Be assured, the AASB Board of Directors is committed to successfully leading the association during this “climatic change.” With AASB’s new executive director, its outstanding staff and with the association’s new mission statement, and goals and objectives, AASB will accomplish its mission of expanding outstanding membership services and advocacy for public education in Alabama. ▲

Alabama School Boards • June 2007 15

By Denise L. Berkhalter

16 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

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t’s the last day of school. Principal Pat Kornegay of Montgomery County’s Highland Avenue Elementary School steps into a classroom. The students flash wide smiles, yell ‘hey, mama’ and run up to her with outstretched arms.

More than a see-you-next-year hug, it’s a warm appreciative embrace for the principal who has led the high-poverty, high-achieving school to its third Torchbearer School award.

“I’ve never seen such a group of children. They work so hard because they want to please me and their teachers,” Kornegay explains. “I love them so much. I sit with my babies, cry with them, laugh with them. They respect me because I respect children. They know I’m fair.”

Kornegay says her 360 students, most from poor, single-parent families, are told failure is not an option, poverty is no excuse and high-performance is expected.

Students know they let themselves and their school down if they do less than their best, so, Kornegay says, they aim high.

The students’ success resulted in Highland Avenue earning one of just 26 Torchbearer School awards given to Alabama public schools by the state Department of Education for 2006-07. In addition, on the 2005-06 Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test (ARMT), 80 percent of Highland’s third-graders met or exceeded reading standards, as did more than 88 percent of fourth-graders, nearly 88 percent of fifth-graders and more than 90 percent of sixth-graders. Also, 78 percent of thirdgraders, 93 percent of fourth-graders, nearly 94 percent of fifth-graders and more than 90 percent of sixth-graders met or exceeded ARMT mathematics standards.

(Continued on page 20; see related articles on pages 18 and 19.)

Pat Kornegay, principal at Highland Avenue Elementary School in Montgomery County, shares a good-bye hug with students on the last day of school and praises them for their part in earning the school its third Torchbearer award. She says her students work hard to please her and the school’s faculty.

Alabama School Boards • June 2007 17

From the Staff’s Perspective Jaclyn Brown’s last school day at Montgomery County’s Highland Avenue Elementary School May 23 ended five years as one of the school’s two reading coaches. Marriage is taking her away from her school family and its matriarch, Principal Pat Kornegay.

“I’ve been totally, awesomely blessed with two very responsible reading coaches (Brown and Sharron Carroll) who were selected from within our school, who knew what our students needed and who were excellent,” Kornegay lamented, glancing over at Brown. “Unfortunately, I am in tears today because they are leaving me this year; one is going back home to Chicago and the other is getting married.”

Brown was a bit unsure when she first walked into the school Highland Avenue Elementary on Highland Avenue as a 21School builds its success around a strong team, said principal year-old rookie. Thanks to tough Pat Kornegay. The school’s two but fair leadership, she found reading coaches — Sharron her footing.

Carroll and Jaclyn Brown — “I knew I could be a good implement the fundamentals of teacher, but Mrs. Kornegay the Alabama Reading Initiative and use individualized tactics made sure that I worked,” Brown said. “Once I got on the ball and to reach struggling readers. decided I was going to do whatever she told me to do because she knew something I didn’t — when that happened, it was smooth sailing from then on.”

Each day Brown tapped into her students’ eagerness to learn. The students’ drive is what she’ll remember most when she leaves Highland Avenue for another Title I, high-poverty school. She also leaves behind a bit of advice for her future replacement and others interested in helping all students — regardless of race or family income — achieve. ▲ Never give up. ▲ Be serious about your job. Teach and train

with fidelity. ▲ Be collegial. Share what you know and have learned and experienced with your colleagues. ▲ Create winsome relationships with your colleagues. Once that barrier is not there, it makes your job a lot easier. ▲ Stay focused. Keep the main thing, the main thing.

Your main focus is your students.

18 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

The Torch he Torchbearer Schools Program was created in December 2004, inspired by Samuel CaseyCarter’s book “No Excuses: 21 Lessons from HighPerforming, High-Poverty Schools.” To be eligible for the Torchbearer School designation: 80 percent of the student population has to receive free/reduced price meals; 70 percent must score at proficient or above on the Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test; students must perform above average on the Stanford Achievement Test —10th Edition; and the school must have adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind Act for two consecutive years.

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The 2006-07 Torchbearer Schools include: School Board School 1.

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Athens Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Cleburne County Covington County Covington County Cullman County Dothan Dothan Escambia County Eufaula Fairfield Florence Gadsden Jackson County Linden Mobile County

19. Mobile County 20. Mobile County 21.

22.

23.

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Mobile County Mobile County Mobile County Montgomery County

25. Perry County 26. Talladega County

Athens Elementary ** Councill Elementary ** Hemphill Elementary N.H. Price Elementary Fruithurst Elementary ** Florala City Middle W.S. Harlan Elementary Jones Chapel Elementary ** Heard Elementary ** Cloverdale Elementary ** Huxford Elementary # Bluff City Elementary ** Donald Elementary Harlan Elementary Walnut Park Elementary ** Dutton Elementary # Linden High School Anna F. Booth Elementary** (formerly Peter F. Alba Elementary) Calcedeaver Elementary # McDavid-Jones Elementary ** W.C. Griggs Elementary # Saint Elmo Elementary # J.E. Turner Elementary ** Highland Avenue Elementary # Albert Turner Sr. Elementary Childersburg Elementary **

** Second year Torchbearer school # Third year Torchbearer school Source: Alabama State Department of Education

bearers

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton, along with members of the state Board of Education and school administrators recognize the 2006-2007 Alabama Torchbearer Schools.

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FIND OUT MORE For more information about the Torchbearer Schools Program, contact Dr. Angela Mangum at 334/353-9251or amangum@alsde.edu.

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26 Alabama School Boards • June 2007 19

Highland Avenue School...

Continued from page 17

More than 74 percent of Highland Avenue’s students in grade five met or exceeded standards on the 2006 Alabama Direct Assessment of Writing in holistic composition. Highland Avenue’s fifthgraders ranked in the 79th percentile on the Stanford Achievement Test-10th Edition in reading and math, the 76th percentile in language and the 77th percentile in science. Sixth-graders ranked in the 63rd percentile in reading and 69th percentile in language on the SAT-10.

At Highland Avenue, 71 percent of teachers have master’s or doctorate degrees, and all of the teachers on staff are now highly qualified. Its attendance rate is 97.37 percent. And, students benefit from such programs as Dynamic Basic Early Literacy Skills, the Alabama Reading Initiative, STAR Early Literacy Program, STAR Reading and STAR Math.

The school made adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind Act in 2006-07 and has not been in school improvement.

The success comes despite the school’s staggering poverty rate. Nearly 90 percent of students eat free/reduced price meals.

Though 80 percent of the school’s students are African-American, 16 percent white, 4 percent Hispanic and less than 1 percent Asian and Native American, Highland Avenue’s students don’t get a break from hard work and high expectations. Stereotypes regarding race and poverty are written off as fiction.

Parents don’t get a break either.

If a child is in academic or attendance trouble, the school’s parent liaison just might show up on his doorstep or drive the child to school. Moms, dads and guardians are often invited to workshops, one-on-one conferencing and are invited to invest what they can in their children.

Spanish-speaking parents often Highland Avenue Elementary School third-grade teacher Tawanda DuBose instructs her reading language arts class.

20 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

receive materials in a format they can understand from the teacher who educates English language learners.

“When I first took this job, the superintendent said this is going to be a challenge, working with poor students in one-parent families,” Kornegay said. But, she wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“My parents separated when I was 8 years old, so it’s easy for me to relate and know what these children are going through.”

This is the Birmingham native’s 10th year at the helm of Highland Avenue Elementary School. She previously served as principal of two other Montgomery County schools. Her career also includes 22 years as an elementary school teacher.

Her entire work history has been a lesson in observing and learning school leadership styles. She filed away in memory the methods and techniques that worked well for her supervising administrators and colleagues. The one leadership tactic she places the greatest faith in is collaborative teamwork.

“Initially, I took a lot of time working with my stakeholders — my parents, my teachers, my support staff, my kids, everybody involved — because it takes a whole team to make things happen,” Kornegay said.

“I wanted to build an instructional team of compassionate people who care enough about children, who know children are children regardless of color, culture or character and who would help make my vision a reality and move students to a level where they can be successful.”

Her role as the instructional leader was particularly important given that she arrived to find a fairly novice staff 10 years ago. “I had to prepare my staff for the adventure,” she said, “because the school was transitioning from a middle class school to one receiving children from the housing projects.”

The transition was a double-edged sword. Kornegay had to adapt a new group of students to the school’s structured, challenging learning environment while dealing with existing staff unwilling to do what was necessary to educate high needs students.

“So, I had to select teachers who were compassionate for children and who saw my vision. It doesn’t matter where our students come from, but what matters is where we’re taking them. The stereotype of failing because of poverty isn’t acceptable.

When you have highly skilled and

Students sort through books in the library to prepare for summer reading.

highly qualified teachers, there should be no failure.”

In addition to recruiting a highly effective team, Kornegay places a lot of stock in retaining that team.

“To be a successful team, you should not have too much transition among your players. If you can keep a core team of people — who know what to do and how to do it — together for a couple of years, you can have a really effective program. Teachers who aren’t up to the work load and the challenges weed themselves out, so if they stay here, they are up for the challenge.”

Kornegay admits she deserves the “mama” nickname her close-knit family of students and teachers gave her. “I guess that’s because when they come to me, I bring them into the nest like a mother bird and hold them tight in there until I can give them their wings.”

When nestling Jaclyn Brown was hired as Highland Avenue’s reading coach, she questioned her ability to leave the nest and stay on the team.

“When I came here, I was 21. I was terrified. I heard these horror stories and thought Mrs. Kornegay was going to jump down my throat if I just made one mistake.

But, I came to realize the reason why she expected so much from me was that she saw something in me that I didn’t even see in myself,” Brown said. The reading coach also learned to look deeply at her students, searching for a way to reach each one.

Failure is not an option. Poverty is no excuse.

— What students at Highland Avenue Elementary School are told

“These students work really hard, in spite of all the things they may be going through at home. We tell them they are the greatest, and they truly believe they are,” Brown said.

“We don’t focus on poverty or what we don’t have here at Highland Avenue,” Brown said from her desk planted in front

Highland Avenue Elementary School uses computers and educational software to reinforce reading and math lessons.

of shelves filled with books and reading aids. “We focus on what they do have — the most outstanding and amazing desire to want to learn and to please us. They want to do well.”

Kornegay agrees and says that’s why she finds ways to celebrate student achievement even when there is no money. She cheers over the intercom. She challenges students to academically beat Montgomery County’s magnet schools. She asks teachers to plaster doors and bulletin boards with inspiring words. She and teachers sometimes even show up for their students’ off-campus sporting events and church programs.

“We let them know, this school is special,” Brown said. “They have to hold up that banner for this school no matter where they are in the community. People are looking at them because they’ve done awesome things in this school in spite of the odds. They know what the odds are, but they also know they can overcome those odds.”

More than two-thirds of this year’s Torchbearer Schools, including Highland Avenue, returned to the list for a second or third year. Eight schools are new to the list.

The state Department of Education describes each Torchbearer as a shining example of how exemplary leadership and teachers can overcome obstacles to create effective learning environments and inspire student achievement.

“The teachers, principals, students and parents (at Torchbearer Schools) have worked so hard to turn their schools into high-performing schools,” said state Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton. “While the majority of these students come from high-poverty conditions, Torchbearer Schools excel because they are truly dedicated to success.”

Dr. Angela Mangum of the state Department of Education’s Alabama Leadership Academy, which trains school leaders, says these schools are committed to excellence for all students.

“Schools in the Torchbearer Schools program are perfect examples of the positive environment created when principals, faculties and staff members work together to set common goals and meet the same ▲ high expectations,” she said.

Alabama School Boards • June 2007 21

Give Teachers the Gift of Time

By Christine Sealy

As Elementary Teacher of the Year for 2007-08, my message for school board members and superintendents is to encourage your teachers to slow down and reflect on why they became a teacher in the first place.

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"Teaching is a truly rewarding career.

Teachers love children and work hard every day to help them strive to be the most successful they can be in life."

—Christine Sealy

22 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

here are so many new things in our profession, and we struggle daily to keep our heads above water. I say “we” because I am certainly one of those teachers. The new programs are amazing and necessary, but they seem to all come at once with training, reading, planning, collaboration and follow-up instruction. In the past year, four programs that have greatly affected my classroom are inclusion, the Alabama Reading Initiative, the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative and school improvement.

These programs are wonderful, yet time consuming. When implementing new programs, teachers and administrators are focused on the details of the program.

During times like this, school board members and superintendents need to ensure local administration sets aside time for teachers to reflect on what makes them great teachers.

After taking the time to sit and think about things I have not thought about in years, I feel uplifted, rejuvenated and ready to tackle my challenges once again. Tears have come to my eyes many times thinking about several of the children and how they have changed throughout the year in my class. I recall several children telling me at the beginning of a year they hated to learn and be at school, but by the end of the year, they truly had a love for learning. I know every teacher has stories like this, if we could only give them the gift of time to reflect on them. Encourage teachers to sit in a quiet place and think about their students’ faces and remember when they got excited because a child understood a new concept or read a sentence for the first time.

Children are our future, and we are their teachers. Whether school board members,

superintendents, parents or the general public — we should respect, love and honor all teachers. Every thriving person has had incredible teachers to direct his or her life. Take a minute and think about where you are today as adults, and remember you had many teachers guide your learning along the way and steer you in the right direction.

If you are a parent who has ever had a child in school, take time to remember your child’s teachers. Teachers spend much of their time in class and at home thinking about your child. After 11 years of teaching, I still lie awake at night trying to come up with unique ways to reach certain children with specific emotional needs as well as their academic needs. Teachers consider their class of students like their own children, and no matter where we are or what we are doing, your children are always on our minds. On each of my family trips, I am always thinking of ways to share my experiences with your children.

We use our holiday breaks to rejuvenate our minds, bodies and spirits, so we can return to the classroom to give our all to your children.

Teaching is a truly rewarding career.

Teachers love children and work hard every day to help them strive to be the most successful they can be in life. ▲ Christine Sealy is Alabama’s Alternate Teacher of the Year and the state’s Elementary Teacher of the Year for 2007-08. She teaches at Larry Newton School in Baldwin County.

Alabama School Boards • June 2007 23

By Sen. Hank Sanders

When it rains, it pours. It happens in life. It happens in the Alabama State Senate. I was scorched by the drought and flooded by the pouring. I am still standing.

“When it rains, it pours” was an often-used phrase by farmers struggling to grow crops and make ends meet. They needed reasonable rain on a regular basis. Instead, they appeared to receive no rain for long periods and then a whole lot in a short time. Put another way, “When it rained, it poured.”

The Alabama Senate had a drought for 12 of the 13 weeks in the 2007 Regular Legislation Session. We only passed five bills (excluding Sunset) during that time. The education budget and general fund budget were dying from drought. So were the $1.1 billion bond issue and other bills of importance.

The drought was forged by the Senate lockdown. A minority of senators had closed the legislative heavens. Nothing could pass. Not even dew fell from the Senate skies. All legislation was dying on the proverbial vines. Storm clouds filled the sky but no rain fell.

Then the legislative heavens opened. The Alabama Senate rained bills. It poured during two legislative days. It was not just the number of bills, but the quality. We passed a $6.7 billion education budget. We passed a $1.8 billion general fund budget. We also passed 62 other bills all on the same day. When it rains, it pours.

The next legislative day, we passed a $1.1 billion education bond bill for capital improvements in our schools. We also passed 94 other bills and 98 resolutions. When it rains in the Alabama Senate, it pours.

This was the worst year yet, but it was not without precedent. Last year, the Senate passed 154 bills during a two-day down pouring near the end of the session. The year before the Senate passed 95 bills in a three-day stretch.

Sometimes in cloud bursts the crops get lost in the flood. Therefore I want to share more specifically the planting, cultivation and harvesting of the education budget and the bond bill. As chair of the Finance and Taxation Education Committee, I had particular responsibility for guiding these bills through the Alabama Senate.

This year, the education budget and education bond bill were introduced in the Legislature in early March. We had intended to consider the education budget in the Senate first because it started in the House last year. However, the Senate drought (lockdown) changed our plans. Therefore, both the education budget and bond bill started in the House.

I was not idle. I worked as hard as if the budget had started in the Senate. Several times a week, I met with Rep. Richard Lindsey and Legislative Fiscal Office staff about the budget and bond bill. Lindsey is chair of the House committee which handles the education budget. He is smart, honest, fair and exercises very good judgment.

24 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

Joyce Bigbee, Norris Green and other LFO staff members are smart, dedicated, hard working and creative.

By the time the budget and the bond bill passed the House and arrived in the Senate, the major issues had been resolved through collaboration. Even though we could not get the bills assigned to the F&TE Committee because of the lockdown, I continued working. I met with senators individually as well as representatives of K-12, two-year colleges and four-year universities. I even held a committee meeting on the education budget without the budget being assigned to the committee.

When the majority broke the lockdown, the education budget was assigned to the F&TE Committee the same day. The next day we reported it out of the committee without amendments or much consideration. We wanted it to be in position to be considered by the full Senate at the earliest opportunity. The Alabama Constitution mandates that a bill lay over one legislative day after committee work before being considered by the full Senate.

I worked on the education budget that Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I had to have a substitute budget ready for Tuesday. The $6.7 billion education budget was debated for only 38 minutes before passing the Senate. When it rains, it pours.

The bond bill followed a similar pattern. It was assigned to the F&TE Committee the first legislative day after the lockdown was broken.

The next day we passed it out of committee without amendments. We also worked on a substitute bill for consideration on the Senate floor. On Thursday we passed the $1.1 billion bond bill after only 40 minutes of debate. When it rains, it pours.

I’m just glad the drought did not kill important legislation. I’m also glad the down pouring did not wash away other much needed crops.

I’m glad to be still standing.

My mother used to say, “Son, however bad it is, it will be all right. You will also be all right.”

Understanding that helps me to get through droughts and floods. ▲ This is an excerpt from the “Sketches” column written by Sen. Hank Sanders, chair of the Finance and Taxation Education Committee.

Legislative Review The final day of the 2007 Regular Legislative Session was June 7. Here’s a look back at how major K-12 issues fared. ▲ Education Budget: On June 7, Gov. Bob Riley signed the $6.7 billion ▲

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Education Trust Fund budget. Act 07-361 Education Bond Issue: The Legislature sent to the governor a $1.07 billion education capital bond issue — with a roughly 75/25 percent split between K-12 and higher education. About $658.64 million of the bond issue will go to K-12, $226.44 million to higher education and $185.5 million is slated for “other.”

Essential Personnel Funding: The governor signed legislation to phase in state funding over a three-year period for principals, assistant principals and counselors through a modification to the state Foundation Program formula for funding these essential personnel. Another key provision ensures each school earns a minimum of one full-time principal by 2009. At full implementation, the bill will cost the Education Trust Fund an estimated $45.4 million each year. Act 07-284.

Pay Raise: The governor signed a 7 percent pay raise for education employees. The legislation increased the state salary matrix for all certificated employees by 7 percent. For support employees, the raise would be 7 percent or $1,000, whichever is greater. For education retirees, the bill provides a one-time lump sum payment calculated at $2 per month of service to provide an average $600 per retiree. Act 07-296 Annual Reappraisals: All bills proposing to repeal annual reappraisals failed this session. The detrimental financial impact to local schools and government operations triumphed over the minimal relief for individual taxpayers.

Home School Access: Local school leaders clearly voiced their concerns about the effort to open access to public school extracurricular activities to home-schooled students. The practical implementation problems helped stop these bills for another year. School boards and others fought the bills because of concerns about enforcing discipline, no-pass, no-play and other rules, as well as the fundamental unfairness of allowing nonpublic school students to take the limited number of positions on public school teams.

Uniform Calendar: Although no legislation was introduced this year, a special House committee met to discuss a uniform start date for schools.

The continued advocacy by school boards had an impact and helped keep school calendars a local decision with academically sound intent and the flexibility to accommodate community preferences.

Tenure/Arbitration Reforms: Lawmakers did not act on AASB-backed bills that would have immediately stopped pay upon an employee’s termination and required that only Alabama education law be used in termination cases. Arbitrators are often unfamiliar with Alabama’s tenure laws and are applying their own collective-bargaining experience, which does not apply in Alabama. The problems have created confusion, delay and unpredictability in schools when local boards are trying to meet the public’s demand for accountability. In addition, school boards have had to pay employees they have terminated, find and pay substitutes and explain to the public that the new law requires unnecessary expense and delay.

A summary providing additional information about the results of the legislative session will soon be available with the Leg-Alert 2007 Enactments.

Alabama School Boards • June 2007 25

Alabama Association of School Boards

Professional Sustaining Members

AASB appreciates these professional members for supporting association activities and you all year long.

2WR/Holmes Wilkins Acrhitects Inc. Montgomery, Alabama 334/263-6400 Alabama Beverage Association Montgomery, Alabama 334/263-6621

Exford Architects Birmingham, Alabama 205/314-3411

McCauley Associates Inc. Birmingham, Alabama 205/969-0303

Fuqua & Partners Architects PC Huntsville, Alabama 256/534-3516

McKee & Associates Architecture and Design Montgomery, Alabama 334/834-9933

Gallet & Associates Inc. Birmingham, Alabama 205/942-1289

Payne & Associates Architects Montgomery, Alabama 334/272-2180

Alabama Gas Corporation Birmingham, Alabama 205/326-8425

Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood Inc. Montgomery, 334/271-3200 Birmingham, 205/879-4462 Mobile, 251/460-4006

Alabama Supercomputer Authority Montgomery, Alabama 334/832-2405

Hoar Program Management Birmingham, Alabama 205/803-2121

Barganier Davis Sims Architects Montgomery, Alabama 334/834-2038

Jenkins Munroe Jenkins Architecture Anniston, Alabama 256/820-6844

BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama Birmingham, Alabama 205/220-5771

JH Partners Architecture/Interiors Huntsville, Alabama 256/539-0764

Christian Testing Labs Montgomery, Alabama 334/264-4422

Kelly Services, Inc. Dothan Alabama 334/673-7136

Council of Alabama Coca-Cola Bottlers, Inc. Birmingham, Alabama 205/841-2653

KHAFRA Engineers, Architects and Construction Managers Birmingham, Alabama 205/252-8353

Curriculum Advantage Duluth, Georgia 770/325-6715

Paul B. Krebs & Associates, Inc. Birmingham, Alabama 205/987-7411

Evan Terry Associates PC Birmingham, Alabama 205/972-9100

Davis Architects Inc. Birmingham, Alabama 205/322-7482

Lathan Associates Architects PC Birmingham, Alabama 205/879-9110

Volkert & Associates Inc. Mobile, Alabama 251/432-6735

26 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

PH&J Architects Inc. Montgomery, Alabama 334/265-8781 Rosser International, Inc. Montgomery, Alabama 334/244-7484 Sain Associates Birmingham, Alabama 205/940-6420 Scientific Learning Tallahassee, Florida 850/228-8882 Sherlock Smith & Adams Inc. Montgomery, Alabama 334/263-6481 Southland International Bus Sales Birmingham, Alabama 888/844-1821 TAC Energy Solutions Birmingham, Alabama 205/970-6132

At the Table Alfonso G. Robinson School Board Macon County Board of Education

July 2007

Hometown Tuskegee

11- NSBA/Southern 14 Region Conference San Antonio, Texas

A Board Member for This is my fifth year.

Books at Bedside “The Audacity of Hope” by Barack Obama Inspiration My wonderful parents. They raised me well, and I constantly seek their inspiration on a day-to-day basis. Of course, I also have a wonderful circle of friends and family, including my dear children — my son, Preston, and daughter, Kasey — and my wife, Katie.

Motto as a Board Member Without dreams you can’t have any dreams come true.

29- AASB Summer 31 Conference Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach Jul. 31- Leadership I Aug. 1 Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach

September 2007 District Academy Programs

Walter Mitty Fantasy I would like to see every child in America have an education that makes them a viable part of not only their personal communities, but the world community.

Advice to New Board Members Attend the AASB meetings. They have a wealth of information, and you can learn so much from the presentations that are made. You also grow a lot faster as a board member by meeting people who have been there and have crossed the bridges you haven’t already crossed.

17

District 2 Academy

20

District 3 Academy

24

District 8 Academy

25

District 9 Academy

27

District 7 Academy

October 2007 District Academy Programs

Greatest Accomplishment as a Board Member My greatest accomplishment is still a work in progress, because I have some very lofty goals. However, each time we have a successful graduating class, whether on the elementary or high school level, we have reached a milestone.

1

District 5 Academy

4

District 6 Academy

9

District 1 Academy

11

District 4 Academy

Pet Peeve as a Board Member Though everyone can’t get everything they want, I believe working in concert we can achieve a lot better than what we might want individually. I want to be known as that person who always bends and does not break and to let people know that spirit of compromise is alive and well.

21- Academy Core 22 Conference Hoover

Reason I Like Being an AASB Member The camaraderie amongst board members and ability to forge relationships beyond your own board. I enjoy the very good information AASB continually provides to us that allows us to be better board members wherever we serve.

6-8 AASB Annual Convention Wynfrey Hotel, Hoover

My Epitaph He gave his all to serve his community and to make a difference in a positive way.

December 2007

6

AASB Leadership II Core Wynfrey Hotel, Hoover

▲ Alabama School Boards • June 2007 27

F ACETO FACE with Sen.Vivian Davis Figures This latest installment in a series of features recapping discussions between members of AASB's grassroots Leader to Leader program and their legislators spotlights Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Sen. Vivian Davis Figures. Dr. Judy Stout, president of the Mobile County Board of School Commissioners, asks this key lawmaker for her take on major K-12 public education issues. ▲ Stout: Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

■ Figures: I am a very spiritually based woman who loves God,

family, children, senior citizens and people in general. I have a very soft heart for those in need and a strong will to stand up for what I feel in my heart is right. I have a great sense of humor and love to have fun, give hugs and make people feel special. Lastly, I love to cook and feed people. Most people think that I cannot cook, but at the risk of sounding as if I am bragging, I really can cook. (She smiles.) ▲ Stout: I understand you run a tight ship as chair of the Sen-

ate Education Committee. Tell us about your service on that committee.

■ Figures: It is an honor to serve as chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee because education is the fundamental basis on which a foundation can be built to reach your highest potential. With education, the sky is the limit as long as you work hard and believe in yourself.

It has been said that I run a tight ship in regards to how I chair the Senate Education Committee meetings. I open up every meeting with a prayer followed by an announcement that no cell phones or pagers are allowed. I even threaten everyone with a $50 fine to go to the Helping Schools Tags Awareness Campaign, should a device go off. We laugh it off, but they know I am serious. ▲ Stout: AASB often either strongly supports or strongly

opposes some of the bills assigned to your committee. Do you have a philosophy about how to approach legislation that impacts school policy at a state level?

28 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

■ Figures: My main philosophy is to treat people the way I

wish to be treated, which is what my mother drilled into me while growing up. I try to put myself in the shoes of the other person before making a decision. I ask myself the following questions when considering legislation: What is the positive impact? What is the negative impact? Who are the affected parties? Are all parties in agreement? Who are the proponents? Who are the opponents? Is there a cost associated with the bill, and if so how will it be funded? At the end of the day, will the children, education and the state of Alabama be better off if the legislation becomes law? ▲ Stout: All of us were impacted by the devastation and deaths

March 1 in Enterprise, and it posed a special challenge to the Senate committee on which you serve to determine how to help. You’ve been named to a special subcommittee to determine guidelines about how to consistently treat any future requests for aid after natural disasters in schools. Has the committee met and started discussion? How would you suggest approaching the problem?

■ Figures: During the debate of the Enterprise tornado disaster, I was moved to tears as we struggled to do the right thing. This situation was different because eight children had lost their lives, which made the whole debate emotional. On the other hand, I wanted to make sure that every system in this state would be treated the same if a school was destroyed.

I suggested to Sen. Hank Sanders, chairman of the Finance and Taxation-Education Committee, to appoint a subcommittee to make recommendations for a set policy and formula by which all schools would be treated the same when a disaster,

accident or incident occurred. He asked to chair the committee along with House members appointed by (House Education Finance and Appropriations Committee) Chairman Rep. Richard Lindsey.

The committee has met and is in the process of gathering information to formulate a policy. My approach is simply to be fair to every system after a disaster, accident or incident occurs. ▲ Stout: During your tenure as chair of the Senate Education Committee, what education

issue has been your greatest challenge and what education accomplishment has been your greatest joy?

■ Figures: As chairwoman of the Education Committee, I would have to say the issue that has presented the greatest challenge is the one dealing with home-schoolers wanting to participate in extracurricular activities in public schools. My greatest joy has been to author the Child Protection Act, which requires all personnel with unsupervised access to children to have a criminal background check. This act includes personnel in public, private and parochial schools. ▲ Stout: Was there a specific piece of legislation that was near and dear to your heart this

session?

■ Figures: This session I had two pieces of legislation near and dear to my heart. I introduced

a bill that would make it a felony to leave a child unattended in a vehicle, which will be named in honor of Amiyah White, if it passes. This is the 2-year-old girl who was left in a church day care van a couple of years ago and unfortunately died as a result of it. The other legislation I introduced would ban smoking of tobacco products in all public places, restaurants and bars in the state of Alabama. (Editor’s Note: Neither bill passed.) ▲ Stout: What role can school boards play in the state government and legislative arenas to

move an education agenda forward that benefits all of our schoolchildren?

■ Figures: School boards can play a critical role in the legislative process by having an open continuous line of communication with their local legislators. It is important that legislators are updated on an ongoing basis, rather than just before the start of a legislative session. ▲ Stout: We understand your future plans may involve representing all of Alabama in a new

position in our nation’s capitol. Do you want to share any news with school board members across the state about where you are in those decisions?

■ Figures: I am seriously looking at running for the United States Senate against Jeff Sessions in 2008. I will be making a formal announcement in regard to that decision in the coming weeks. ▲

About Sen. Vivian Davis Figures Service is the driving force behind Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, who is serving her third full term in the Alabama Senate. She was first elected in 1997 to serve the remaining term of her late husband, Sen. Michael A. Figures, who was president pro tempore. She was re-elected without opposition in 1998 and 2002. Figures serves on several committees, including Rules and Finance and Taxation-Education.

She is chair of the Education Committee.

She was born in Mobile, educated in the Mobile County Public School System, received her bachelor's degree in management science from the University of New Haven in Connecticut and attended Jones School of Law in Montgomery. A former Mobile City Council member, Figures is president/CEO of Figures Legacy Education Foundation and serves on the Mobile Area Education Foundation Board of Directors. The mother of three sons is a past at-large member of the Democratic National Committee and has been recognized for her community and legislative service by numerous organizations, agencies and professional groups.

✔ July 6 - The pre-registration deadline for the July 12-14 NSBA/Southern Region Conference at the Hyatt Regency in San Antonio is July 6. The event hosted by the Texas Association of School Boards is themed “Bringing it all Together.” Speakers include Brian Biro on “The Unstoppable Spirit,” James H. Johnson Jr. on “People and Jobs on the Move: Implications for U.S. K12 Education” and Suzie Humphreys on “I Can Do That!”

For details, call 800/580-8272, ext. 6142 or visit LTS.tasb.org online and click “Southern Region” under “conferences/ events.” ✔ July 31 - Applications for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program subgrants are now being taken. Funds will be awarded to school systems to facilitate the enrollment, attendance and academic achievement of homeless children and youth in school and, if appropriate, in preschool programs.

To apply for the three-year grants, submit a notification of intent to apply to Dr. Dorothy Riggins in the Federal Programs Section by fax at 334/242-0496. For details, call 334/242-8199. ✔ August - Summer professional development training for superintendents is available in school finance Aug. 13-15; education law Aug. 2-3; and curriculum and instruction Aug. 9-10. For more information, contact Feagin Johnson at 334/242-9716 or by e-mail at fjohnson@alsde.edu.

Alabama School Boards • June 2007 29

Potpourri PEOPLE ▲ Congratulations to AASB Executive Director Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried, who was honored with a resolution at the May 10 K-12 state Board of Education meeting for outstanding service to school boards. Presented in advance of her retirement, the board resolution described Sims-deGraffenried’s many years of distinguished public service as “a hallmark of exceptional commitment and dedication to public education and to the children of Alabama.” ▲ Welcome aboard new board members

Dr. Ruth Ash, Walter Batson, Robert Campbell, Ashley S. Harris, Robert Jennings, Shelia Martin, Norman Nicolson, Lawrence Pijeaux Jr., Elisa Rambo, Rhinnie Scott and Anne Upchurch of the Alabama School of Math and Science; Michael Box of Winfield; Charles F. Harper of Ozark; Christopher Haughto of Haleyville; Willie Moore III of Jasper; Bruyne Rollins of Hartselle; Theodore Samuel of Macon County; Lisa Spence of Albertville; Steve Stott of Haleyville; Mary L. Stowe of Madison County; and Martha Windham of Geneva County. ▲ Welcome to Greene County Superin-

tendent Isaac N. Atkins, who was appointed in May.

2006-2007 Alabama State Teacher of the Year Cameron Sharbel McKinley of Riverchase Elementary School in Hoover, was honored for her service by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush April 26, 2007, in the Oval Office at the White House. Credit: White House photo

by Eric Draper

▲ Way to go John Griffin of Walter

Wellborn High School in Anniston and Chelonnda Seroyer of Bob Jones High School in Madison. The Alabama teachers are among 40 U.S. teachers chosen as educational ambassadors by the Toyota International Teacher Program. They will travel through rural and urban Japan from Tokyo to central Honshu June 22 through July 7 and will share insights from their experience with students. ▲ Applause goes to Marc Knight of

Eufaula High School, Eufaula, and Brittany Brooks of Coffeeville High School, Clarke County, who were the only two Alabamians named 2007 Dell Scholars. The program provides scholarships to high-schoolers with financial need and who participate in approved college readiness programs. There were 250 scholarships awarded. ▲ Hats off to the late William Marvin

Callans

Self

▲ Well done Kathy Self of Trace Cross-

ings Elementary and Shane Callans of Greystone Elementary. The Hoover teachers earned $10,000 awards and all-expenses-paid trips to Washington to meet President Bush. They are the only 2006 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching winners from Alabama.

30 Alabama School Boards • June 2007

Moody, who served on the Tallapoosa County Board of Education from 1986 to 1990 and was honored with a board resolution for his education service. The resolution was presented to his daughter, state Rep. Betty Carol Graham. ▲ Way to go Zachary Woolley, 17, and

Lindsey Jones, 10. The two were honored in the nation’s capital recently for their outstanding volunteer work during the 2007 Prudential Spirit of Commu-

nity Awards. Woolley, a sophomore at Shelby County’s Oak Mountain High School, and Jones, a fifth-grader at Madison County’s Central School, were among 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country who received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning at the 12th annual awards ceremony. ▲ Kudos to Bob Jones High School

(Madison City) students Erin Gowdy, Travis Leder and Alexe Pounders for winning an honorable mention in CSPAN’s national “Studentcam” video documentary competition for their film “The Drive for a Fuel-Efficient America” posted at www.studentcam.org online. ▲ Congratulations to the winners of the

Rep. Greg Wren Scholarship presented to high school seniors in recognition of their exceptional academic achievements, leadership qualities and community involvement. The winners were Elmore County students Kaitlin Coe of Stanhope Elmore High School; Andrew Corbman and Zach Martin of Wetumpka High School; and Kristle Lawrence of Holtville High School. ▲ Hats off to School Superintendents of

Alabama 2007 student and administrator scholarship winners. The student winners are Arthur Bosarge, Fairhope High School in Baldwin County; Keon Maiden, Amelia Love Johnson High School in Marengo County; Samantha Dansby, Abbeville High School in Henry County; Valerie Henry, Auburn High School; Sedrick Smith II, Jess Lanier High School; Alisha Weathers, Sylacauga High School; Abby Smith, Hillcrest High School; Steven Carroll, West Point High School; and Allison Hill, Grissom High School. The winning administrators are Bonnie Short, Auburn; Vicky Ozment, Talladega County; Sarah Kneisley, Hoover; and Debra Carroll, St. Clair County.

Congratulations to 2007-2008 Alabama Teacher of the Year Pamela Harman (center), an earth science teacher at Spain Park High School in Hoover. She was one of 16 finalists from elementary and secondary schools across the state. She begins her service as state education spokesperson and trainer/ workshop presenter to share her best practices and expertise and will be Alabama’s representative in the National Teacher of the Year competition. ▲ Kudos to Brittany S. Kahlstorf of

Hoover High School in Hoover and Mario Myers Winburn of Bob Jones High School in Madison City, recipients of the 2007 Southeastern States Pupil Transportation Conference Buster Bynum Scholarship awarded to two public school students in each of the 14 member states of the Southeastern States Pupil Transportation Conference. Kahlstorf is the daughter of Lisa Kahlstorf, a Hoover City Schools bus driver since 1998.

Winburn is the son of Jesse J. Winburn, who has been a Madison City Schools bus driver since 2000.

Kudos to 2007-2008 Alternate Alabama Teacher of the Year Christine Sealy (far right), a first-grade teacher at J. Larry Newton School in Baldwin County. Sealy is the elementary winner among the district finalists, which also included (not pictured) Anita H. Thompson of Fairview Elementary School in Cullman County and Clarissa N. Daniels of Lee High School in Huntsville.

County superintendent since 2006.

Retired Assistant School Superintendent Lillian Baker, who previously served as interim superintendent prior to Carter’s hiring, will again act as Russell County superintendent until a permanent appointment is made. ▲ Condolences to the family of the late

Claude Danvis Ezell, 83, who died in April. Ezell served on the Wilcox County school board for 18 years and had been a principal in Pine Apple for 24 years. He had also served in the U.S. Signal Corp during World War II. Donald McLeod has been appointed to fill Ezell’s seat on the board.

▲ Applause for the late Claud Morrison,

a former member of the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education, who was recently inducted into the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama’s Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame.

The 2007 class also included Ryan deGraffenried Jr., the late husband of AASB Executive Director Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried, for his political leadership. ▲ Sympathies to the fam-

ily of the late Russell County Superintendent Dr. Vivian Carter, who died in early June. The former Barbour County Carter Schools director of federal program services had served as Russell

SCHOOLS ▲ Kudos to the Alabama schools listed in the May 28 issue of Newsweek as part of the 2007 America’s Best High Schools list. The honored schools by rank, name and school system are No. 4 Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School in Jefferson County, No. 134 Loveless Academic Magnet Program in Montgomery County; No. 209 Mountain Brook High School in Mountain Brook; No. 293 Auburn High School in Auburn, No. 546 Grissom High School in Huntsville; No. 1,070 Bob Jones High School in Madison City; and No. 1,249 Spain Park High School in Hoover.

▲ Hats off to the state’s 2007 National

Assessment of Educational Progress Motivation Contest Award winners, which include North Birmingham Elementary School, Birmingham; J. E. Terry Elementary School, Dallas County; and Haleyville Elementary School, Haleyville. ▲

HELP! What should be included in a school safety plan?

Q A

Under the federal No Child Left Behind law, school systems must use federal schoolsafety funding to establish a plan for keeping schools safe and drug free, according to the U.S. Department of Education. These plans must include: • Appropriate and effective discipline policies; • Security procedures; • Prevention activities; • Student codes of conduct; and • A crisis management plan for responding to violent or traumatic incidents on school grounds.

States must also report school-byschool safety statistics to the public.

— Denise L. Berkhalter Alabama School Boards • June 2007 31

Alabama Association of School Boards Post Office Drawer 230488 Montgomery, Alabama 36123-0488

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