May 2021 | Volume 9 | Issue 1
VESTAVIAVOICE.COM
VESTAVIA HILLS’ COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE
History of Care
TAKING THE REINS
Author Lynn Edge and Vestavia publisher trace growth of medicine in metro Birmingham in new book.
See page A18
High Potential
Rebels baseball team has a deep pitching staff, full of quality arms capable of leading the Rebels to victory on any given day.
See page B4
INSIDE Sponsors........... A4 News....................A6 Chamber............A11 Business........... A12 Events.............. A20
Real Estate..... A23 Schoolhouse.... A24 Sports.................B4 Metro Roundup........ B10
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Roger Dobnikar, the new principal at Liberty Park Middle School, stands in the front lobby of the school. Photo by Erin Nelson.
As Liberty Park Middle principal, Roger Dobnikar aims to build upon culture of success By NEAL EMBRY
W Braeley Gottier runs through a solo routine in the dance studio at Vestavia Hills High School on April 2. Photo by Erin Nelson.
hen Liberty Park Middle School opened in 2008, Roger Dobnikar was part of the inaugural class of teachers at the new school. During the school’s first
semester, Dobnikar was in academic support before becoming an assistant principal. Now, 13 years later, Dobnikar, who had served as interim principal since the spring of 2020, has been named the contract principal. “This is something I’ve been looking forward to for a while now,” Dobnikar said. “It’s been very rewarding for me.”
Dobnikar said he knew early on that his calling was in this field. “Education was always my goal from when I started college,” Dobnikar said. After getting married, Dobnikar and his wife, a Birmingham native, landed in
See DOBNIKAR | page A26
Seniors reflect on COVID-19’s impact on high school careers By NEAL EMBRY Braeley Gottier was looking forward to her senior year, with pep rallies, Toga Day and other fun activities marking the end of her Vestavia Hills High School career. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit last spring during Gottier’s junior year, it
meant some not-so-welcome changes to the Class of 2021’s plans. “It’s all gone,” Gottier said. Gottier said she, like many others, set her expectations of her senior year on what she saw previous graduating classes do, but
See SENIORS | page A27