Volume 5 | Issue 5 | September 2017
moving on
Superintendent retiring to return to teaching
By EMILY FEATHERSTON Superintendent Sheila Phillips never aspired to be superintendent. Rather, she said, she aspired to be a special education teacher — which she was for a number of ears before making her wa to estavia Hills. “That is where my heart is,” she said. “My heart is with children.” hillips announced her retirement from the position of superintendent for estavia ills it chools on ul , effective ept. , and after leaving will take a position with hildren s of labama. In her seven years with Vestavia, Phillips served as assistant principal at the high school, moving to assistant superintendent in 2012 and superintendent beginning the summer of .
See MOVING ON | page A28 Sheila Phillips served as Vestavia Hills superintendent from 2014-17. Phillips plans to return to her roots as an educator and work with children at the Sunshine School, a program that provides continuing education to hospitalized children. Photo courtesy of Whit McGhee.
a i y rien s o inny o r an ontin e fight or gyne o ogi a an er a areness resear h
Pre-Sort Standard U .S. Postage PAID Tupelo, MS Permit # 54
Ginny Bourland, right, at a Head Over Teal run. Photo courtesy of Laura Crandall Brown Foundation.
By EMILY FEATHERSTON This year, more than 22,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. nd in five ears, less than half of those diagnosed in 2017 will still be alive. f the five forms of g necological cancer, ovarian is the most common and the most deadly, mainly because onl percent of cases are found in earl enough stages to be successfull treated.
INSIDE
Sponsors .............. A4 News...................... A6
Chamber............... A11 Business .............. A12
School House .....A16 Events ..................A19
nlike other forms of cancer, even other forms of g necological cancer, there is no earl detection screening available for ovarian cancer, and the earl symptoms are easily explained away by other common ailments or conditions. hat s wh inn ourland a nearl lifelong Vestavia Hills resident who lost her battle with ovarian cancer this ear was determined to get bus fighting
See BOURLAND | page A30 School Guide ..... A22 Sports ................... B4
Medical Guide..... B14 Calendar ............. B26 facebook.com/vestaviavoice
Forging Ahead
Pushing the Pace
Vestavia Hills native Elyssa Garfinkle develops career in television production in ‘magical’ New York City.
Rebel boys cross-country team aiming for first state appearance — and more — since 2013.
See page B1
See page B4