The Principal's Nook

TCTA Families,

Summer vacation is finally over and today it the first day of the 2026-2027 school year! We are so excited to welcome our students to TCTA. This Principal's Nook is intended to keep you connected to our continuous journey throughout the school year. Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we empower students to live out what it means to be Prepared, Proven, and Premier.

With appreciation,
Richjetta Branch
Principal, TCTA

I am excited to serve as the cosmetology and Barbering instructor at TCTA. As a proud graduate of Tuscaloosa City Schools and Central High School, it is especially meaningful to me to now have the opportunity to teach and give back to students in the same school system that helped shape me. My goal is to help students build confidence, develop hands-on skills, and prepare for future careers and continued education in the beauty industry.

My name is Katie Beaudin, and I teach English to our multilingual learners. I have traveled to countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, and Spain, where I have enjoyed opportunities to learn about various cultures and practice speaking different languages such as Spanish. I am currently working towards a master's degree in teaching English as a Second Language and love to embrace and celebrate the diverse cultures and languages of our multilingual students in the classroom!

My name is Shatonia Fikes-Craig and I am a passionate Cosmetology educator, hairstylist and entrepreneur who is dedicated to helping future beauty professionals build confidence, develop their skills, and prepare for successful careers in the beauty industry. Helping students to be more inspired about the beauty industry brings me so much joy and I look forward to another awesome school year.

My name is Nickie Foster, and I have proudly served seven years, as a special education collaborative teacher at Tuscaloosa Career & Technology Academy. I also serve the English Language Learner students enrolled in CTE programs at TCTA. My role is to work collaboratively with all teachers, staff, and faculty to ensure that students receive support and services necessary to ensure they are successful in their pursuit of college and career readiness before graduation, despite barriers.

I'm Isaiah Harper, former ABC3340 and FOX6 news reporter. My world now is preparing young folk for an in-demand and exciting career in Digital Media: Film, Broadcasting-Journalism and Digital Audio. Our program at TCTA is #1 among many high schools across the state and country.

My name is Carl Hughes, and as a 14-year veteran teacher, I am dedicated to inspiring our students to achieve their very best through engaging classroom learning and exciting hands-on lab activities. Whether your student aims to become a veterinarian or simply loves working with animals, our Veterinary Science program offers a supportive space for them to learn foundational principles directly with live animals. I look forward to another great year of growth and discovery with your student learner!"

Under the leadership of instructor Destiny Langford, the Tuscaloosa Career & Technology Academy Computer Science program provides students with exceptional opportunities to excel both inside and outside the classroom. Students regularly earn nationally recognized IT certifications, compete successfully in state and national technology competitions, secure competitive internships and scholarships, and work alongside industry professionals through meaningful partnerships. By combining hands-on learning with advanced coursework and career-focused experiences, the program prepares students to become the next generation of technology leaders.

I am Kristin Lowery and I am teaching Health Sciences this year. I have been a registered nurse for 17 years and have experience in the NICU and Pediatrics. I am married to my husband, Joe, and we have 4 children. I am excited to teach the next generation of healthcare workers!

Hi, I’m Erica Morgan, and I’m excited to be entering my 10th year in education! I spent my first five years at Northridge High School and the last five years here at TCTA, where I serve as the Collaborative Teacher for Computer Science, Health Science, Media & Production, Education & Training, and Cosmetology, as well as the TCTA Ambassador Sponsor. I also have the privilege of serving as the Auxiliary Director at NHS and managing TCTA’s main website and social media. I’m so excited to celebrate this milestone and can’t wait to see what my 10th year brings!

My name is Vicki Reece and I am very excited to be returning to the classroom to teach the Education In Training Program at TCTA! I can't wait to meet my amazing students who I have already heard so much about. It is an honor to teach to teach the next generation of educators and I can't wait to get started.

Hi! I’m Chef Jasmine Robertson-Warren, and I’m excited to be teaching Culinary Arts and Hospitality & Tourism at TCTA this year. I’m actually a former TCTA Hospitality & Tourism student, so coming back as an instructor is a full-circle moment for me. In my classes, students will get hands-on experience while learning culinary and hospitality skills that they can use in the real world and in their future careers.

Hello students and families! I am your friendly school nurse, dedicated to keeping our campus healthy, safe, and ready to learn all year long. Whether you need a bandage, a quiet place to rest, or just someone to talk to about your wellness, my clinic door is always open. My goal is to support your physical and emotional well-being so you can focus on doing your absolute best in the classroom!

Mrs. Wood is a Registered Nurse with experience in emergency nursing, flight nursing, and as a Transplant Team RN. She proudly serves on the Alabama Health Science/HOSA Advisory Board. She is passionate about teaching and preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals through our Health Science program. This program offers the following courses: Patient Care Technician/Internship, Foundations of Health Science, Therapeutic Services, Medical Terminology, Sport Medicine I, Sports Medicine II. Our Patient Care Technician/Internship students gain valuable hands-on experience and have the opportunity to sit for the NHA Patient Care Technician certification exam, giving them a strong foundation for a rewarding career in healthcare.

DJ Allen, Electrical

Vital Milien, Modern Manufacturing

TCTA is committed to preparing students for the workforce, whether it is after high school, college, or the military. Our emphasis on workforce readiness skills is a critical component of our moto: Prepared. Proven. Premier. We will hosting student orientations to make expectations visible for all of our students once the schedule change process is complete and student schedules are finalized.

For the safety of our students, please note that any students who do not have a ride at the 3:20 dismissal will be required to ride the bus back to their home school. For questions, please contact Ms. Martin at pmartin@tusc.k12.al.us.

To comply with state legislation (SB92), the Tuscaloosa City Schools system is now phone-free. That means all personal electronic devices belonging to students—including phones, laptops, iPads, and smartwatches—must be turned off and stored away during the school day. TCTA is embracing this opportunity to prepare students for the workforce.

On last school year, TCTA participated in the single-point entry safety checks on a monthly basis. We are continuing our participation on this school year. Those checks are performed at all high schools and are staffed by a security firm hired by TCS. An administrator is on site during the checks in a support capacity. We are asking parents to pick up items that are confiscated by the firm.

In addition to the single-point entry checks, TCTA administrators and team members perform metal detector and cell phone checks daily. Any phones found in use by students will be retrieve by administration and parents will be asked to pick up the phone on the first offence. Subsequent offences will result in disciplinary action as descripted in the code of conduct.

We want to be sure you never miss important updates from your child’s school! If you haven’t already, please download the free ParentSquare app and sign in to your account.

Parents who log in can see all school news in one place—including upcoming events, announcements, and messages from teachers—making it easier to stay informed. While you may still receive information by email or text, signing in to your account ensures you get the full ParentSquare experience.

Let’s stay connected—your involvement makes a difference.

Here is the link to that tutorial. Parent/Guardian 101: Support Your Student with ParentSquare

Email: webmaster@tusc.k12.al.us

Website: https://www.tuscaloosacityschools.com/tcta
Location: 2800 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
Phone: 205.759.3649
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tctatuscaloosa
Twitter: @TCTATuscaloosa