New administrators named at several Hoover schools

Several new administrators have been named at schools across the district. These include:

• Mr. Hunter Nichols, assistant principal, Gwin Elementary

• Dr. Alfreda Brown and Mrs. Chelsea Bayko, assistant principals, Simmons Middle

• Mr. Carl Berryhill, assistant principal, Green Valley Elementary

• Mrs. Shonteria Culpepper, assistant principal, Berry Middle School

• Ms. Meghan Denson, assistant principal, Bluff Park Elementary

• Mr. Josh Donaldson, athletic director, Spain Park High

• Mrs. Jennifer Hogan, principal, Hoover High

• Dr. Harley Lamey, athletic director, Hoover High

Along with these, Dr. Dee Fowler has announced his retirement, effective October 1. The board of education is currently searching for his replacement.

Altamont Graduates Accepted to More Than 100 Schools

The 56 graduates of The Altamont School’s Class of 2023 were accepted to more than 100 universities and colleges and will matriculate at 38.

High School Coach Wins Broyles Award

Former Mountain Brook football assistant coach Tony Johnson received the 2023 High School Broyles Award for the state of Alabama. The award honors the top high school assistant football coach in every participating state across the country. Coach Johnson retired in spring after working at MBHS for nine years.

Birmingham City School Teachers Retire Together

UA Wheelchair Tennis Wins Title

The University of Alabama Adapted Athletics wheelchair tennis team recently earned its seventh consecutive national championship, defeating Auburn University in doubles and singles matches.

Teacher Honored by Peers

Grantswood Community’s Melanie Reymann was voted Second Mile Teacher at the end of the 2022-23 school year. Second Mile Teacher is a program of the Jefferson County Schools Education Foundation. Every May, the Foundation asks each school to identify one teacher who “went the Second Mile for students.” Reymann was recognized at an event for nominees.

After 108 years of combined service, Deborah Dickinson Crawford, Thomas Scarborough and Glastic Quarles, all recently retired from Minor Elementary School in Birmingham’s Five Points West community. Quarles spent 18 years of his 40-plus-year career with Birmingham City Schools at Minor, where he taught first grade. Crawford taught kindergarten for 38 years. Scarborough was the school’s music teacher and spent 30 years in education.

Oak Mountain Grad Signs at Louisiana Tech

Tess Gardner recently committed to the College of Engineering and Science at Louisiana Tech University. Tess was on the majorette line all four years of high school, serving as co-captain the past two. She plans to continue in college, having earned a spot as a feature twirler with the Band of Pride marching band.

Huffman High Student Awarded Scholarships

Michael Wicks received acceptance letters to around 34 colleges and was awarded $3 million in scholarships. Michael participated in College Choice Foundation, a Homewood nonprofit that helps students with limited resources find schools at an affordable cost. Michael committed to attend and play football at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, the number one school in offered scholarships. He plans to major in computer science.