ACS Index

January has been an outstanding start to the second semester, despite the intermittent weather interruptions. I am very proud of the way in which all of us can quickly pivot - if needed - when severe weather threatens school operations. January proves a special month in many ways - and is always set aside as the month for School Board Recognition. Though we appreciate the contributions of our Board of Education members year round, please allow me to take this opportunity to thank each member of the ACS Board of Education for their tireless dedication to our students, faculty, and staff. Without their guidance, support, and, of course, policymaking, we could not soar in the many ways in which we do! Also this month, we received great news on academic gains, introduced the inaugural set of students heading to the ACS Champions Craft Academy, and recognized senior student-athletes participating in winter sports. February promises to be equally as busy as we host a joint summit with Birmingham City Schools on our new Magma Math software, host the Liberty Learning Foundation once again for our elementary students, and begin spring sports seasons. Thank you, as always, for what you do. Your support of our mission means so much!

- Dr. L. Wayne Vickers, Superintendent

Each ACS school was represented at the January Board of Education meeting for School Board Member Recognition Month. During the meeting, schools made special presentations expressing appreciation for board members' service. Additionally, Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers expressed gratitude for the board members’ dedication and leadership in shaping the district’s educational vision. Each board member was presented with a certificate of appreciation, along with heartfelt remarks highlighting their contributions to the success of ACS. School Board Member Appreciation Month, observed annually in January, highlights the importance of local school boards and the impact of their decisions on students, families, and communities across Alabama. See a Google Photos Album from the January Board of Education meeting recognitions.

Danny Hall and Kaitlan Zahariadis were honored this month by ACS Central Office Administration with the "Standing O Award" for their service to their school, their students, and their profession. Hall, a custodian, and Zahariadis, an exceptional education teacher, both work at Creek View Elementary School. ACS Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Latanza Harrison leads the Standing O Awards, a monthly program recognizing two outstanding employees in conjunction with corporate sponsor America's First Federal Credit Union (AmFirst). Each employee receives a $100.00 gift card from AmFirst and a certificate of appreciation.

A process years in the making culminated in late-January: the pursuit of COGNIA STEM Certification for Alabaster City Schools. The process, envisioned by Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers, was led by Chief Academic Officer Dr. Amanda Wilbanks and Director of Federal Programs Supervisor/Testing Coordinator Mr. Brent Byars. Achieving STEM certification at the district-level is rare and proves no small feat. The process involved hundreds of hours of committee work, artifact gathering, interviews, and writing - all designed to prove that STEM is woven into the culture of ACS. A COGNIA team conducted virtual interviews with ACS teams on January 24. Official word on approval of STEM certification is expected soon. Learn more about COGNIA Stem Certification.

Nearly 200 students filed into Thompson High School's Performing Arts Center in late January with "Golden Tickets." They had received the tickets from their 3rd period teachers, who had also notified the students they had been officially accepted into the new ACS Champions Craft Academy (CCA). Forty students have been accepted into CCA's welding program; 50 students (approx.) in electrical; and 50 students (approx.) in building science. Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers congratulated the students on their successful applications, interviews, and acceptance in the CCA - which is slated to open in time for the start of the 2025-2026 School Year.

Mr. Brent Byars, Federal Programs Supervisor and District Test Coordinator for Alabaster City Schools, has been named an inaugural recipient of the AMTESOL Friend of ESOL Award. The award was presented during a ceremony held in Montgomery earlier this month. The AMTESOL (Alabama-Mississippi Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) Friend of ESOL Award recognizes individuals in Alabama and Mississippi who demonstrate exceptional commitment to advancing the goals of local ESOL programs. See more about Byars' award on the ACS district website and from the Shelby County Reporter.

ACS hosted this school year's fourth English Learners (EL) Parent Academy in mid-January, bringing families and educators together once again in support multilingual students. In a change from prior setups, January's Parent Academy began with breakout sessions held throughout the campus of Thompson Intermediate School (TIS). These gatherings centered on overall academic support, with specific emphasis on ACCESS, ACAP, and ACT. More than 100 parents, students, and community members convened for the winter session. See a Google Photos Album of the event.

Thompson High Schools' Wind Ensemble took the BJCC Theatre Stage on January 23 and performed before an audience of music educators from across the state. This prestigious, selective opportunity at the 2025 Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA) Conference was the culmination of months of practice and planning. Band instructors Graham Bennett (Director), Corey Hyman (Associate Director), Rebecca Reinhardt (Associate Director), and Jamiah Robbins (Director of Percussion) welcomed Dr. Rachel Park, Associate Professor of Piano at Jacksonville State University, for one of the performances. The AMEA appearance comes on the heels of other program successes and ahead of several planned spring performances for the THS Band Program. See a Google Photos Album from AMEA.

Kaia McClain (TMS) and Harper Sandlin (THS) have been recognized for their outstanding artistic achievements in the 2025 State Superintendent’s Visual Art Exhibit. Kaia received an Honorable Mention, while Harper earned 2nd place in her category in the prestigious statewide competition.

McClain is a student of Claire Caldwell and Harper is a student of Michelle McGraw. Their artwork will remain on display in Montgomery. All winners/honorees will be formally recognized at the SSVA Awards Ceremony this March.

Meadow View Elementary School (MVES) welcomed Shelby County Commissioner Jon Parker (District 3/Chairman) and Shelby County Commissioner Ward Williams (District 4) to Meadow View Elementary School earlier this month as part of a special check presentation. Commissioners presented a check totaling $97,806.00 to MVES for its upcoming adaptive playground. Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers, Chief Operations Officer Dr. Jeff Atkins, Principal Michelle Brakefield, Shelby County Manager of Community Services Mindy Dent, MVES teacher Suzanne Williams, and ACS occupational therapists Kapi Farrell and Merry Grace Harper were on hand for the presentation. The Shelby County Commission joins the ACS Board of Education and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama in making this new, state-of-the-art adaptive playground a reality, with construction slated to begin soon.

How can teachers support Multilingual Learners (MLs) in their classroom? Alabaster City Schools' own Amanda Rodriguez has the answer in a new blog post that was featured on a national level. PBS Education published Rodriguez's strategies for ML classroom supports. Her post outlines seven strategies including: creating a welcoming environment, building relationships, using visual aids, engaging all language senses, teaching vocabulary explicitly, and collaborating with ESL experts. Read the full blog post from PBS Education.

On January 30th, Thompson Intermediate School came alive with excitement as families gathered for Math and Literacy GLOW Night—an evening dedicated to fun, interactive learning. The event was a huge success, drawing an impressive crowd of students and parents eager to explore engaging activities together. Throughout the event, families worked side by side on math puzzles, literacy games, and hands-on activities designed for all grade levels. See more on this incredibly visual event on the TIS website and TIS Facebook page.

ACS dance and cheer teams - along with band members - put on an amazing performance at the Thompson High School Performing Arts Center on January 28, 2025. The exhibition performance was a preview of the programs' shows that will soon debut at the UDA 2025 National Championship in Orlando. Performances were visually stunning, merging dance and music in new and innovative ways. Thompson has earned National Championships at UDA in the past. See a Google Photos Album from the 01/28 event and more on UDA Orlando 2025.

Thompson's Boys and Girls bowling teams qualified for the AHSAA State Championships after the girls clinched the South Regional title, while the boys secured second place. The girls showcased dominance, winning all their matches, while Ryan Lloyd shone for the boys with impressive individual performances. Both teams will compete at the Class 6A/7A state championships on Feb. 3-4 in Mobile. [excerpt from BVM Sports]

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