February 2026 Recap

Some of the faculty and staff from the CEPS enjoyed the Annual 1883 Red Tie Gala. The Gala raised $177,395 in support of Jax State.

Dr. Alhammouri and Dr. Gilliland presented at the Alabama Council for Social Studies annual conference this past month.

Their session was titled, "Mapping the Math Behind Democracy: Exploring the Electoral College Through Data and Civics."

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Mrs. Valerie Wheat from the CEPS Teacher Education department recently presented at the JSU Student Summit. She presented one of her favorite topics, "Universal Design for Learning."

Congratulations, Mrs. Wheat!

Dr. Jennifer M. Troncale, Dr. Michael Alvidrez, and Dr. Krista Gilliland presented at the 2026 Alabama Council for Social Studies annual conference on Friday, February 6.

Their session was titled, “Transforming Elementary Social Studies and Science Lessons with AI- Driven Engagement.”

Dr. Jennifer M. Troncale, Dr. Kyoko Johns, and Miss Josie Puccio presented at the 2026 Alabama Science Teachers Association (ASTA) annual conference on Friday, February 20.

Their session was titled, “Bridging Science and Reality: Using Google Earth for Real World Connections.”

Mrs. Stacey Land and the Alexandria High School Valley Cubs hosted Mr. Adam Clark, our Director of Field and Clinical Experience and Coordinator of Teacher Education Admissions.

Mr. Clark spoke with a group of students from the Education Training Program about all that the College of Education and Professional Studies has to offer future educators!

Career Technical Education & Professional Studies hosted Marshall County Tech and Randolph County for a FCS Day on Feb. 18th. Over 40 high school students visited CTEPS and engaged in hands-on activities related to our FCS concentrations.

Our Hospitality and Culinary Management students prepared a delicious lunch, complete with an ice cream bar.

CTEPS knows how to recruit students!!

Dr. Christie Calhoun and Dr. Christi Trucks presented at the Future Teachers of America conference in Auburn on Feb. 6th.

They shared advice on student access, engagement, and support with eager, future teachers.

The future is bright!

Congratulations to CEPS students Jesse McKenzie, Jaidyn Gossett, and Trey Marshall for recently being named Go Leaders for Jax State University.

The GO! Team is made up of outstanding and well-trained students, (GO! Leaders) who play a vital role in helping new students make the transition to Jacksonville State. This knowledgeable and spirited group of students is dedicated to helping incoming students find their place at Jax State.

Congratulations on this huge accomplishment!

Space Scouts: Rising 7th & 8th graders - Mission 22 - Challenger Learning Center Northeast Alabama

Space Scouts is an immersive, hands-on, robotics-focused STEM summer camp offered by the Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabama (CLCNA) for upper-elementary and middle-grade students. Designed to build foundational STEM and engineering skills, Space Scouts engages students in mission-based challenges centered on the design, construction, sensing, and programming of a real robotic vehicle. Throughout the camp, students take on the ... Read More

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Cocky's Cafe reopens in February!

Our Hospitality and Culinary Management students are proud to prepare and serve lunch to you on the following dates this spring:

Wednesday, Feb. 11th: Fried chicken sandwich, fries, and a cookie

Wednesday, March 18th: Bacon Cheeseburger, fries, and a cookie

Wednesday, April 8th: Chicken Caesar Wrap, chips, and a cookie

Lunch Ordering Instructions

Menu Access: The full menu for each date is available below.

Order Period: You can place orders for one week or multiple weeks at once—one order per form.

Order Deadline: Place orders by 10:00 AM on Monday before Wednesday lunch.

Order Confirmation: You’ll receive a confirmation email on Monday afternoon.

Availability: Limited number of lunches; no further orders can be accepted once sold out.

Pickup Information: Lunches can be picked up between 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm in the CEPS Common Area. Lunches not picked up by 1:00 pm will be sold to another customer.

Dietary Restrictions: Currently, there are no options for dietary restrictions.

Fill | Cocky's Cafe Lunch Order Form Spring 2026

Thank you for choosing Cocky's Cafe!  Our Hospitality and Culinary Management students are proud to prepare and serve lunch to you on the following dates this spring: Wednesday, Feb. 11th: Fried chicken sandwich, fries, and a cookie Wednesday, March 18th: Bacon Cheeseburger, fries, and a cookie Wednesday, April 8th: Chicken Caesar Wrap, chips, and a cookie All lunches are $10.  We can only take cash at this time. Lunch Ordering InstructionsMenu Access: The full menu for each date is available below.Order Period: You can place orders for one week or multiple weeks at once—one order per form.Order Deadline: Place orders by 10:00 AM on Monday before Wednesday lunch. Order Confirmation: You’ll receive a confirmation email on Monday afternoon.Availability: Limited number of lunches; no further orders can be accepted once sold out. Pickup Information: Lunches can be picked up between 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm in the CEPS Common Area. Lunches not picked up by 1:00 pm will be sold to another customer.Dietary Restrictions: Currently, there are no options for dietary restrictions.

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The Student Alabama Education Association (SAEA) held its annual state conference on February 6-7, 2026, at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National. The conference began on Friday night with s’mores and a “Back to the Future” themed mixer.

Following the keynote address on Saturday, candidates running for SAEA officer positions delivered their speeches. Conference attendees elected nine of their peers to the 2026-2027 SAEA State Board.

The new officers include the two members from the Jax State chapter: Vanessa Corona Rios and Gracie Mason as Regional Directors; and Dr. Kyoko Johns as the State Faculty Advisor.

Congratulations!

In February, students from Weaver Elementary School and White Plains Middle School participated in the annual GEMS (Girls Engaged in Math and Science) Expo at Jacksonville State University!

Under the guidance of teachers, these students stepped confidently into the world of higher education and professional STEM.

Throughout the day, they actively engaged with mentors, explored hands-on learning opportunities, and showcased their curiosity in a field that continues to grow and evolve. Experiences like this spark imagination, build confidence, and open doors to future possibilities in math and science.