By Any Means Necessary

 

As we close out the month of October, I want to continue to lift up and celebrate the amazing leaders of the Team Selma’s schools.  This month is National Principals Month.  Although I appreciate our selfless school leaders on a daily basis, this month gives us an opportunity to thank each of them and to recognize the important role that they play in improving outcomes for our scholars and their families. 

The School of Discovery is such a fantastic school.  This year, our 6^th graders are being led by Mr. Jason Munford.  Under his leadership, our SOD Eagles have embraced remote learning and continued to soar.  This week, they are celebrating Red Ribbon Week and scholars pledge to “Be happy.  Be brave.  Be drug free.”  It will be an incredible week from Career Day and a Pink Out to Say Boo to Drugs. 

Our scholars at R.B. Hudson STEAM Academy are some trend-setters in many ways.  Leading our region in restorative practices, robotics and coding, Principal Cicely Curtis sets the bar high as she leads with excellence.  Under her leadership, routine tasks such as morning announcements become an engaging learning experience where scholars have a voice and are pushed to STEAM for excellence.

Last and certainly not least, Saints Nation is led by Mr. Stoney Pritchett.  I love his “by any means necessary” approach towards educating and supporting our scholars.  He and his team understand the power of forging positive relationships that prepare our scholars for a successful future.  Mr. Pritchett’s vison has ensured that our Saints have unprecedented opportunities to excel in career and technical education, athletics and leadership.

Principals matter.  This month and every month, I appreciate the contribution that these stellar leaders make in our schools and community.  Second only to an effective teacher, principal leadership is a primary factor that has been proven to support improved academic outcomes in our schools.  Join me in keeping our leaders lifted up as we continue to make decisions during this pandemic.

These decisions include a recent recommendation to begin our Phase II Return to Excellence Reopening Plan on November 9^th.  This plan will allow for voluntary, targeted intervention and tutoring aimed at supporting our most vulnerable scholars and those who are seeking additional academic support.  Please join us on Wednesday October 28 at 5:30 to learn more about what to expect as move into Phase II.

During this virtual Chat and Chew meeting, I will share details from our plan and answer questions.  As always, my goal is to ensure that we continue to prioritize the safety and health of our staff, scholars and families.  With flu season approaching, we will continue to be intentional in our efforts and look forward to partnering with the community and our families. 

Check our website and social media outlets for ongoing updates and information on this week’s Chat.  Thanks for supporting Team Selma!

For more information, email me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org

 

Principals: True Game-Changers

 

Ok.  I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, even to myself.  Here it is the latter part of October and I, like leaders throughout the nation (and world for that matter) am still grappling with decisions made and those that need to be made.  Admittedly, I am tired.

Tired or not, the learning continues and the leadership is more vital than ever. As this is the case, I am so grateful for the leadership of each of our principals.  They have been true game-changers during this pandemic.

Veteran principal, Dr. Doris Cureton, leads Knox elementary with tremendous energy and creativity.  I look forward to seeing the outcome of their Pumpkin Book Report Project where scholars will read and decorate a pumpkin as their favorite character.  Our scholars need fun, hands-on learning like this to remain engaged and excited about learning 

The Busy of Bees of Edgewood are led by Dr. Margaret Jones. Scholars are engaged in the Spooktober Reading Challenge this month. They are reading at least 20 books and taking tests for accuracy.  Winners will be rewarded with one of the best prizes ever, pizza!  I wonder if I can participate?

The Meadowview Lions had a blast last week during Tale Tellin’ with Arts Revive.  Principal Chemeria Evans ensures that scholars are reading, coding and celebrating excellence on a regular basis.  Their Attendance Matters campaign was an awesome way to engage families.

Scholars at The Clark Elementary School, led by Principal Dyphelia Thrash, are learning all about social justice.  What a perfect time in our nation’s history to learn about how young people can find and use their voice to make a difference in our community and beyond. 

Recently, I celebrated literacy in super hero fashion with third graders at Sophia P. Kingston.  Principal Tamera Nelson and her PAWsome team were on hand for this fun drive-through event.  Although a new principal, Mrs. Nelson is a Selma native and has been a key member of Team Selma for years and we are so pleased to support her as one of our amazing school leaders.

Last week, we bid congratulations to Payne Elementary’s principal Taurus Smith as she was promoted to a position at the Alabama State Department of Education.  We also welcomed Tamera Carter as the new lead learner for Payne.  Making a seamless transition looked easy as Mrs. Carter is also a Selma native and a leader on our Teaching and Learning Team.  Our Payne STEAM Academy is in great hands and we look forward to the continued progress under Carter’s leadership.

Our schools, scholars and this community are truly in good hands.  Next week, I will celebrate our remaining game-changing principals and also share our next steps in our reopening process.  In the meantime, please continue to check out our website and social media outlets for updates.  Families, please check with your child’s teacher and school for the most up-to-date information.  Team Selma appreciates your support.

For more information, email me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org

 

Bullying Prevention and More

 

October is a historically busy month for Team Selma.  The highlights include Bullying Prevention Month and National Principals Month.  Each of these lend themselves to a continued focus on self-care and wellness through enhancing supportive relationships and celebrating excellence.

Preventing bullying during our remote learning space is dependent upon developing and nurturing supportive relationships.  Due to virtual learning, there has been a rise to access to social media which has increased opportunities for cyber bullying.  When we engage our scholars daily and ensure that they know that we care and that they can count on the adults in their lives to keep them safe, we give them the support and courage needed to persevere. 

No child (or adult) deserves to be targeted through cyber bullying.  Typically, when a child is being bullied, someone knows.  This is usually the bystander who may even be a friend.  Team Selma encourages bystanders to be a true friend and ally by talking to a trusted adult.  We can prevent bullying. Doing so will certainly enhance our wellness efforts while showing our scholars their value.  This will go a long way to also improve self-care and wellness for young people and their families.

As we move through this month, we must take time to celebrate Team Selma’s amazing school principals.  National Principals Month is a time for schools and districts to recognize the important role that instructional leaders play in educating our scholars.  An effective principal is second only to an effective teacher as it relates to improving academic outcomes and establishing a positive school culture. 

We are blessed to have a cadre of dedicated school leaders who are visionaries and servant leaders.  They bring a skillset like no other which has allowed our district to move from a traditional school district to 100% remote and virtual learning.  To do this during a pandemic was only possible with strong, humble, selfless and bold leaders.  Please take some time to thank a principal during National Principals Month and beyond.

To keep up and participate in our efforts, please check out our social media to learn more about our self-care and wellness focus for our scholars as well as our employees.  Our Social-emotional Learning (SEL) Team has been intentional in planning.  I look forward to knowing that our scholars will be assessed to determine SEL needs so that supports may be personalized and individualized.

Our employees will be encouraged to celebrate excellence, practice mindfulness and even learn about the benefits of meditation.  Yes, self-care is a must and it is beneficial for everyone.

In closing, please continue to monitor our website and social media outlets as we make announcements about our plans for Phase II of our Return to Excellence Reopening Plan.  This means in the coming weeks, we will begin offering an option for in-person instruction.  Families must complete a commitment form this week to indicate whether they will continue with virtual learning for the remainder of the year or participate in in-person learning.  Stay tuned for more details.

For more information, email me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org