2 minute read
Little Red Schoolhouse Award
Tuscaloosa City Schools Chosen for CLAS Little Red Schoolhouse Award
Tuscaloosa City Schools is this year’s recipient of the CLAS Little Red Schoolhouse Award. This award was presented during the Awards Luncheon of the CLAS Convention on June 13, 2023.
The Little Red Schoolhouse Award is given by the CLAS Board of Directors to an entity that has inaugurated a significant curriculum or instructional innovation deserving of statewide recognition. The program or activity should have a positive impact on the education of children, high potential for dissemination to other schools or school systems, and demonstrate leadership in curriculum or instructional procedures in an Alabama school or school system.
Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Michael Daria, Superintendent of Tuscaloosa City Schools, the district has embarked on an extraordinary initiative to address achievement gaps through summer learning. Dr. Daria, along with administrators and teachers, made the resolute decision in 2018 to prioritize summer learning as a core strategy. Now in its fourth year, the Tuscaloosa City Schools summer program is accessible to all students, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to engage in an exciting and stimulating learning environment during the summer months.
Tuscaloosa City Schools’ summer learning programming is aligned with the National Summer Learning Model, designed to foster students’ love for learning while bridging educational gaps. Recognizing the significance of collaboration, the district has forged a coalition with Tuscaloosa County Schools, the City of Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County Commission, and the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce. Together, they have established a summer learning “backbone” organization, fostering partnerships between school and community-based organizations throughout the county, promoting and expanding summer learning opportunities for all children.
