CLAS School Leader - Winter Issue 2024

CLAS SCHOOL

Winter 2024 Vol. 51 Iss. 4

Ethics Act Changes Learn how changes to the Alabama Ethics Act affect you as a school administrator.

Highlights from National Principals Month Alabama principals were recognized throughout the month of October.

The Legalities of Bullying and Harassment Examine case law that drives decision-making when dealing with bullying and harassment issues.

Countdown to 2024 Legislative Session Things to expect in the ETF budgeting process in the 2024 legislative session.

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CLAS Officers

2023-2024 CLAS Board of Directors

President.............................................................. Chris McCullar Walker County Center of Technology President-Elect............................................ Michelle Washington Lee County Schools Past President............................................................. Bob Lawry Hoover City Schools

Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) Carrie Busby................................... Mountain Brook High School Jeff Cole.........................................Winston County High School David Diaz................................................. Satsuma High School Drew Glass............................................... Tallassee High School Antjuan Marsh.................................................................. Retired Willie Moore.................................................. Athens High School Bennie Shellhouse..................................Andalusia City Schools Seth Taylor....................................................... Saks High School

Alabama Association of Elementary School Administrators (AAESA) Dana Bottoms............................W J Carroll Intermediate School Veronica Coleman....................... Chastang-Fournier K-8 School Charles Gardner......................... Hokes Bluff Elementary School Margaret Jones........................... Edgewood Elementary School Waller Martin...............................Brookwood Elementary Center Sheneta Smith..................................... Howell-Graves Preschool Stan Stokley................................... Saraland Elementary School Dilhani Uswatte........................ Rocky Ridge Elementary School

Alabama Association of Middle School Principals (AAMSP) Andy Carpenter......................................... Wellborn High School Tamala Maddox............................... i3 Academy - Middle School Ross Reed.........................................Auburn Junior High School Tony Sanders.................................... Greensboro Middle School

Alabama Council of Administrators of Special Education (ALA-CASE) Christy Jackson..................................... Fort Payne City Schools Bruce Prescott...................................... Tuscaloosa City Schools Lana Tew.................................................... Pelham City Schools La’Keisha Newsome.................................Henry County Schools

Alabama Child Nutrition Directors (ACND) Melinda Bonner........................................... Hoover City Schools

Alabama Leaders Advocating for English Learners (ALA-EL) Stefanie Underwood................................... Decatur City Schools

Alabama Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (AASCD)

Lisa Beckham................................................ Samford University Ashley Catrett.................................... Crenshaw County Schools Patrick Chappell............................................................... Retired Justin Hefner........................................ Homewood City Schools Chris Mitten................................................ Dale County Schools Carlos Nelson............................................Sheffield City Schools Evelyn Nettles-Hines........................... Birmingham City Schools Tiffany Yelder.............................................. Opelika City Schools

Alabama Association for Prevention, Attendance and Support Services (AAPASS) Floyd Collins............................................... Pelham City Schools Amanda Hood............................... Mountain Brook City Schools Bobby Jackson................................................................. Retired

Alabama Association of Career/ Technical Administrators (ACTA) Connie Davis..........................................Demopolis City Schools Chris McCullar................... Walker County Center of Technology

School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA) Suzanne Lacey................................... Talladega County Schools Chuck Ledbetter ........................................ Pelham City Schools Ed Nichols............................................Madison County Schools Cindy Wigley........................................Marshall County Schools Timothy Thurman.........................................Linden City Schools

Alabama Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA) David Asbury............................................ Gadsden City Schools Allison Mays.................................... Tuscaloosa County Schools

Alabama Association of 504 Coordinators (ALA504) Annie Spike..........................................Marshall County Schools

Affiliate Presidents Jan Tribble....................................................... AASCD President Karissa Lang....................................................AAESA President Chris Kennedy.................................................... ACTA President Amanda Hood .............................................. AAPASS President Seth Taylor........................................................AASSP President Resia Brooks.................................................... AASPA President Heath Grimes....................................................... SSA President Caroline Obert................................................. AAMSP President Charla DeLeo.............................................ALA-CASE President Patrick McGavin................................................ ACND President Jason Barnett.................................................. ALA-EL President Kelly McCollough.............................................ALA504 President

ISSUE

contents 07 Celebrating Principals National Principals Month Highlights

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08 Director’s View End of Year Reminders

08 Membership Benefits Renew before December 31 to retain member benefits

12 CLAS Leadership

SDE Update Practice Winning Every Day

14 Legal Forum Stopping Bullying and Harassment

2023-2024 CLAS Board of Directors

16 Legislative Update From Bills to Budgets: Countdown to the 2024 Legislative Session

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Awards & Recognition

Ethically Speaking

Advocacy Days

Banner School Nominations Open Until November 17

Changes to the Alabama Ethics Act

Advocate for education on scheduled advocacy days

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Upcoming Events

Professional Learning Update

Partnership Directory

Professional Learning Activities

Think Strong. Be Strong.

Finish Strong.

Winter Issue 2024

2022-23 CLAS Business Partners & Sponsors

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The celebrations don’t stop at the state level. Alabama’s principals receive recognition at the national level as well. The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) play pivotal roles in acknowledging the hard work and commitment of principals across the country.

Alyssa Godfrey

Director of Communications CLAS In October, the state of Alabama joined the nation in honoring and celebrating National Principals Month.

This special occasion recognized across the United States is an opportunity to show appreciation for the invaluable contributions of school principals and their tireless commitment to shaping the future of our students. From the Governor’s proclamation to resolutions by the State Board of Education and national recognition by esteemed organizations, Alabama goes the extra mile to commend its dedicated educational leaders during this month.

Both NAESP and NASSP recognize exceptional principals through various programs and awards during National Principals Month. These accolades serve to not only commend the outstanding leaders in Alabama but also to inspire excellence in educational leadership throughout the nation. Alabama principals who receive these accolades serve as shining examples of dedication and innovation in their field.

Throughout October, various events are organized in schools across Alabama to honor principals. Students, teachers, and parents come together to celebrate their educational leaders through activities like special assemblies, awards ceremonies, and appreciation events. These activities not only show gratitude for the hard work of principals but also foster a sense of community within schools.

Each October serves as a reminder of the significance of their work and the positive impact they have on the educational landscape. Let us continue to celebrate and support our principals not only in October but throughout the year, as they tirelessly work towards the betterment of our schools and the futures of our students.

Pictured (L to R): Vic Wilson, CLAS Executive Director; Mallory Kincaid, Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year; Karissa Lang, Alabama’s NAESP National Distinguished Principal; Melanie Harris, Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year; Tony Bonds, Middle School Principal of the Year; Eric Mackey, State Superintendent of Education; Daniel Barrentine, High School Principal of the Year; Keith York, AAMSP President-Elect; and Seth Taylor, AASSP President

Winter Issue 2024

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End of Year Reminders Never underestimate the little things you do and the big impact those things have on everyone.

Christmas break will soon be upon us, and I want to remind you of a few important details.

view DIRECTOR’S

Dr. Vic Wilson Executive Director CLAS Hello everyone,

Can you believe we have almost made it to the end of the first semester? Where did the time go? I hope your first semester has been productive, impactful, and fulfilling. I also hope you know that you have made and continue to make a difference in the lives of those under your care. It’s a wonderful life we live as educational leaders, and we need to stop and reflect on the impact we have on those under our care.

In the past four months, you have helped students, teachers, staff, parents, community members and more in so many ways. That student you high fived or complimented earlier this semester needed that to get through the day, the week, or the month. The teacher or staff member you helped earlier this semester needed that to keep going. The parent you talked to about their child felt better knowing that you care.

Every little thing you do is magic, and your actions are critical to the success for those under your care.

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1. Attend the Secretaries Conference if you can. If not, invest in your staff and send them to the conference.

2. Talk with your superintendent about the Banner School program. You have some great things going on, so get the superintendent to nominate your school.

3. It’s not too late to renew your CLAS membership.

Renew by the end of the year to keep your benefits.

4. Check out the CLAS Events Calendar for upcoming opportunities during the second semester. We have some great events going on, and your presence will make these events even better.

5. Check out the Advocacy tab on the website. We are updating our events, and we will have our CLAS Legislative Priorities up after the November CLAS Board Meeting.

So much to do and so little time. I know that you will be working hard to make the end of the first semester successful. Find ways to encourage and lead those under your care during these last few weeks. Everyone is tired, and so are you. However, you can be the catalyst to spur tired people to do great things.

As always, let us know how we can help you on your leadership journey.

Thank you for all you do for those under your care. You are all rock stars in my book!

Sincerely,

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PRACTICE

WINNING

EVERY DAY Dr. Eric Mackey

Alabama State Superintendent of Education

It’s autumn in Alabama. As the leaves fall, school is back in session, and people are falling into their routines, there’s only one thing on the hearts and minds of Alabamians… that’s right – FOOTBALL!

elected officials, business representatives, and others the ability to make informed decisions concerning our strengths and areas in need of improvement in education.

Ok, ok – as educators there are more important concerns than football; however, football is a major part of the culture in this part of the world. And there’s a lot of symmetry between great football and great education. This year in particular, there is a specific goal for educators to aim for that requires the same kind of commitment to excellence that a championship team has.

Although individual students, schools, or even school districts are not graded – the state is.

That’s why, although they may seem worlds apart, achieving high scores on the NAEP and winning a championship football game share some surprising similarities.

Once again, we are preparing to participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), coming January through March 2024! The NAEP is a congressionally mandated, national assessment in 4th and 8th grade reading and math, given to a portion of students in every state in America for the purpose of measuring student achievement throughout the country.

Last year, Alabama made significant strides in 4th and 8th grade reading and math, going from 49th to 39th and 52nd to 40th in the nation respectively. Our goal is to continue to outpace most of the nation, just as Alabama did in 2022.

NAEP is different from other assessments because it is the only test administered in every state and provides educators and policymakers with a common measure of student achievement. This allows education leaders, 10

Winter Issue 2024

FOCUS ON

IMPROVEMENT During the last NAEP administration in 2022, the nation was struggling to recover from the COVID crisis and the impact it has on educational outcomes around the world. Although Alabama did manage to hold its own and not regress, as the rest of the national uniformly declined, we are optimistic about even greater results in 2024. Just as football teams aim for continuous improvement throughout the season, refining their strategies and skills, we must continually seek ways to enhance student knowledge and understanding with growth and progress as a shared objective.

GOAL SETTING AND

PREPARATION

In both education and sports, success begins with setting clear goals and meticulous preparation. Just as your favorite football team trains for a championship game, students must dedicate themselves to rigorous study of Alabama educational standards in order to perform well on the NAEP. Both require focused, longterm planning and effort.

TEAMWORK

Football is the ultimate team sport, where players must collaborate seamlessly to achieve victory. Similarly, in the realm of education, teachers and students alike benefit from teamwork. Study groups, collaborative projects, and effective teamwork contribute to success in both areas.

DISCIPLINE

Discipline is a cornerstone of success, whether on the football field or in the classroom. Football players train hard, while students must maintain disciplined study habits. Developing discipline is crucial for achieving excellence on both the gridiron and the grade sheet.

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CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS

Just as winning a championship game is a cause for celebration, achieving high scores on the NAEP is an accomplishment worth acknowledging. Recognizing and celebrating success fosters motivation and a positive outlook. Consider this, during the last NAEP administration, Alabama improved in its national ranking in both 4th and 8th grade reading and math and maintained its standing in 8th grade math. No other state in America saw that happen. We should acknowledge and celebrate our teachers and students while not resting on our laurels for the coming year.

Although the NAEP and winning football game are vastly different (NAEP being way more important) they share essential qualities and lessons that contribute to personal growth and achievement. They both require a commitment to excellence, the willingness to learn, and the determination to overcome challenges. So, dust your cleats off, strap your helmet on, and let’s prepare to give NAEP our collective best efforts as we embark upon the challenge of representing for Alabama on the 2024 NAEP assessment!

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2023-2024 CLAS Board of Directors

2023-2024 CLAS President

Chris McCullar CTE Director, Walker County Center of Technology, Walker County Schools

Michelle Washington CLAS PresidentElect

Bob Lawry CLAS Past President

Dana Bottoms AAESA Director

Veronica Coleman AAESA Director

Charles Gardner AAESA Director

Margaret Jones AAESA Director

Waller Martin AAESA Director

Sheneta Smith AAESA Director

Stan Stokley AAESA Director

Dilhani Uswatte AAESA Director

Andy Carpenter AAMSP Director

Tamala Maddox AAMSP Director

Ross Reed AAMSP Director

Tony Sanders AAMSP Director

Floyd Collins AAPASS Director

Amanda Hood AAPASS Director

Bobby Jackson AAPASS Director

Annie Spike ALA504 Director

Lisa Beckham AASCD Director

Ashley Catrett AASCD Director

Patrick Chappell AASCD Director

Justin Hefner AASCD Director

Chris Mitten AASCD Director

Carlos Nelson AASCD Director

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Winter Issue 2024

Evelyn Nettles-Hines AASCD Director

Tiffany Yelder AASCD Director

David Asbury AASPA Director

Allison Mays AASPA Director

Carrie Busby AASSP Director

Jeff Cole AASSP Director

David Diaz AASSP Director

Drew Glass AASSP Director

Antjuan Marsh AASSP Director

Willie Moore AASSP Director

Bennie Shellhouse AASSP Director

Seth Taylor AASSP Director

Connie Davis ACTA Director

Chris McCullar ACTA Director

Stefanie Underwood Christy Jackson Bruce Prescott ALA-EL Director ALA-CASE Director ALA-CASE Director

Lana Tew ALA-EL Director

Melinda Bonner ACND Director

Suzanne Lacey SSA Director

Cindy Wigley SSA Director Winter Issue 2024

Chuck Ledbetter SSA Director

La’Keisha Newsome ALA-CASE Director

Ed Nichols SSA Director

Timothy Thurman SSA Director 13

STOPPING BULLYING AND HARASSMENT

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Winter Issue 2024

Dr. Dave Dagley

LEGAL

forum In 2009, the Alabama Legislature adopted the Student Harassment Prevention Act (Code of Alabama (1975), § 16-28B-1, Ala. Act 2009-571)), and, in 2018, renamed the act the Jamari Terrell Williams Student Bullying Prevention Act (Ala. Act 2018-472). A case brought under this act was recently heard in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal. The case number is No. 22-11317 (11th Cir. September 1, 2023). In that case, the federal district court granted the school district summary judgment, and the appellate court affirmed, based upon the narrow, specific, and exacting standards for awarding damages in cases about student-on-student harassment. In these materials, we typically select a case to describe in detail the facts of the case, the application of law to the facts, and lessons we might glean for school administrators from the case. In this particular case, the appellate court offered only one generalized criticism of the school defendants, in the second paragraph of its opinion: The (parents) appeal the district court’s grant of summary judgment on all their claims. After careful consideration of the record, and with the benefit of oral argument, we affirm. Although the response of the school system and its officials was truly discouraging, the standard for relief of student-on-student harassment is exacting. Thus, despite the tragic facts of this case, we affirm the district court’s decision granting summary judgment to the school system and its officials. (p. 3.)

The court apparently heard criticisms in oral argument, but, other than the oblique statement above, provided no information about its criticism in its opinion.

Consequently, we offer no criticism of our in-state colleagues. In this commentary, we choose to look more Winter Issue 2024

Professor Emeritus, University of Alabama

and Dr. Amy Dagley

Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham

at the Alabama statutes on harassment, hazing, and bullying of students, and suggest to all schools and school districts a more comprehensive and safer path, for both students and school personnel.

Before the anti-bullying act, the Legislature adopted an anti-hazing law, which applied to schools, colleges, and universities. Code of Alabama (1975), (Ala. Act 1981-824). It defines hazing more broadly than conveyed here, but generally includes endangering the mental or physical health of another student, or threatening physical violence to another student, and is limited to actions taken and situations created in connection with initiation into or affiliation with any organization. The primary consequence for hazing is loss of public funding, scholarships, or awards.

The Jamari Terrell Williams Student Bullying Prevention Act, as stated above, was first adopted in 2009 and amended twice, in 2016 and in 2018.

The act defines bullying more specifically than its definition in common, every-day usage, because the statutory definition includes the reference to “a continuous pattern of intentional behavior,” paired with one of five possible resulting effects (placing another student in reasonable fear of harm; substantially interfering with education; substantially disrupting the operation of the school; creating a hostile environment; or, being severe, persistent, or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for another student). This narrow definition may

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Whitney Miller-Nichols

CLAS Director of Governmental Relations

From Bills to

BUDGETS Countdown to the 2024 Legislative Session

The primary state advocacy focus for CLAS is always the Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget since this budget determines the state allocation for each school system and school. As a school leader, you know that a budget is also a policy document that should reflect the priorities of the governing body. Our advocacy efforts during the legislative session are guided by the legislative priorities approved by the CLAS board at its December meeting.

The CLAS advocacy team engages in all steps of the ETF budgeting process so that the ETF may reflect our members’ priorities, too. And your participation in advocacy efforts during the legislative session reinforces the groundwork laid by the CLAS advocacy team during the “off season.”

Setting Financial Priorities State budget season kicked off when ALSDE staff 16

reviewed the agency’s draft FY2025 ETF Budget Appropriation Requests with the State Board of Education (SBOE) at their August retreat. Staff revised their proposed budgets based on SBOE feedback and presented the revisions at the September SBOE work session. The board must always approve the ALSDE ETF appropriations request no later than their October meeting since state law requires all agencies to submit their budgets to the state’s Executive Budget Office (EBO) by November 1 every year.

The EBO will then prepare the Governor’s two budget proposals (one for the ETF and one for the General Fund), adjusting each agency’s requests to reflect the Governor’s priorities for the coming fiscal year. You may remember that the Governor’s Recommended FY2024 ETF Budget made significant adjustments to the ALSDE budget requests.

Winter Issue 2024

Garrett’s House Ways & Means Education Committee while the General Fund will start in Sen. Greg Albritton’s Senate Finance & Taxation General Fund Committee.

In the 2023 legislative session the ETF budget stayed largely the same from the Governor’s desk through the legislative process; there was much more debate about the $2.8 billion ETF Supplemental Appropriation.

State law requires that before both budgets have been sent to the Governor for signature, any legislative action must be accompanied by a Budget Isolation Resolution (BIR). This is an additional vote on every bill up for consideration on the floor; failure to pass a BIR means a bill fails for the session. However, once the budgets have been transmitted to the Governor, a BIR vote is no longer required, and bills can therefore move through the legislative process much more quickly.

The Governor has the power to line item veto any line in the two budgets. This is a rarely exercised power, but it is one more opportunity for advocacy. If she returns a line-item veto, the chambers must then reconsider that item only while the rest of the budget is enacted.

ALSDE’s FY2025 budget requests include: Funding to provide an assistant principal for every school with 250 or more students Funding for school administrator stipends in accordance with SB300, the School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act The Governor signals many of her priorities in the annual State of the State address, delivered to a joint session of the Legislature when they convene for the new legislative session. She has three days to transmit her budgets to the Legislature once they have convened. This year the Legislature comes together on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, so the budgets will be public by Friday, February 9. Look for a breakdown of her address and the ETF budget soon after.

The Legislature holds joint budget hearings to give agency heads the opportunity to explain their budget requests to legislators, since there can be variation between what the agency has requested and what has been included in the Governor’s Recommended Budgets.

The two chambers alternate which originates each budget that year; in 2024, the ETF budget will start in Rep. Danny Winter Issue 2024

Funding for the Principal Mentor Program for new principals Lowering Grades 4-6 Divisors to support intensive instructional needs from the Literacy and Numeracy Acts Additional math coaches as required by the Numeracy Act Additional funding for reading coaches required by the Literacy Act Expanding ARI to support struggling readers past grade 3 Additional ARI funding to pay for summer reading camps, training, and materials

Continued on Page 22 17

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Ask your superintendent to nominate the program(s) for Banner School recognition.

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Do you have an exemplary school-based program(s) that was successful during 2022-23?

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Attention Principals! ext

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Awards

Up to 4 programs per school may be nominated from the 2022-23 school year.

Nomination

November 17 Deadline Superintendents received their nomination link via email from CLAS.

clasleaders.org/banner

4 Schools of Distinction per State School Board District

Ethically

Speaking

Mark Boardman

Attorney Boardman, Carr, Petelos, Watkins & Ogle P.C.

C h a n g e s to t h e A l a ba m a E t h i c s ac t Act 2023-543, signed by the Governor on June 14, 2023, amended the Alabama Ethics Act. The amendments take effect this September.

This year’s amendment provides that a public official or public employee who faces an Ethics Act complaint will now be given the name of the person who made the complaint, the complaint itself, and other information gathered by the Ethics Commission. The amendment also enhances whistleblower protection.

Under the original Ethics Act, the name and identity of the person who made the ethics complaint were kept confidential, even from the public official or public employee accused of violating the Act. The original rationale for this appears to be that keeping the identity of the complainant from the public official or public employee1 encouraged (or perhaps did not discourage) someone from making an ethics complaint. Although the Constitution’s Sixth Amendment provides an accused the right to confront their accuser, this type of 1

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Ethics Act complaints can be made against you as a public official or public employee. The difference between the two was explained in the Ethically Speaking article in CLAS School Leader, Spring 2020 issue.

Winter Issue 2024

“confidential informant” is not unusual in criminal prosecution.

Think of “Crime Stoppers,” for example. If the prosecutor can establish a criminal case without the testimony of the complaining party, then the complaining party previously could be kept confidential in Ethics Act prosecutions. The legislators in this legislative session obviously felt that the interest of a public official or public employee in knowing the identity of the person making the Ethics complaint outweighs the need to keep confidential the identity of that person.

In addition, the new amendment requires that the Ethics Commission provide any information it obtains in its investigation to the accused before the accused decides whether to seek an administrative resolution or fight the charges made against him or her. Prior to this amendment, the Ethics Commission was not required to give the accused even exculpatory evidence. As you may know, a criminal prosecutor, however, is required to give full disclosure to the charged party. But since the Ethics Commission functions in the same manner as a grand jury, the Ethics Commission itself does not prosecute officials and employees accused of violating the Ethics Act. Instead, the Ethics Commission recommends the case to prosecutors. For this reason, the Ethics Act had to be amended by the Legislature.

The Ethics Commission is still prohibited from accepting verbal complaints, anonymous complaints, or unsigned complaints. Instead, the Commission investigates signed, written complaints. Apparently, in response to concerns that public employees would fail to report Ethics Act violations if their identity is no longer kept confidential, the Legislature also amended the whistleblower protection. The original Ethics Act contained whistleblower protection that a supervisor could not take action against a public employee if the public employee reported, in good faith, a possible violation of the Ethics Act. That whistleblower protection continues; the new amendment extended protection to cover any employee who assists or who speaks with an Ethics Commission investigator, as long as the government employee does not lie. In other words, if either the complaining party or a public employee speaks truthfully to an investigator about an alleged ethics violation, no governmental official can retaliate or take action against them. The Act has always contained a provision that says a public employee who lies to the Ethics Commission is subject to civil suit and being fired from his or her employment.

Likewise, the Act has always held a provision that a public employee who willfully files a false claim against a supervisor shall be guilty of the crime of false reporting.

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Complaints under the Ethics Act are easy to file with the Ethics Commission. The Ethics Commission website includes a place to “click” for an Ethics Commission complaint. On it, the complaining party lists his/her name, address, phone number, and employment address, along with naming the government official the complaining party accuses of violating the Ethics Act. The complaining party must set out in detail the specific charges. The complaining party then must swear or affirm that the information provided is accurate. The complaining party must agree to cooperate with the Ethics Commission in its investigation and testify if needed. The Ethics Commission tells complainants and requires complainants to acknowledge that if they fail to fully cooperate in the investigation, the complaint could be dismissed. The complaining party also acknowledges in writing that any information on the complaint form may be provided to the accused.

The Ethics Commission website (https:// ethics.alabama.gov) states where to send the completed form.

Although ethics complaints are easy to make, that does not mean that the Ethics Commission will find that the accused person has violated the Act. The Ethics Commission has three options for any complaint. The Commission can close the investigation because it either does not have jurisdiction or the complaint has expired. The second option is that the Ethics Commission can dismiss the charges based on a lack of evidence to support the complaint. The third option is the option that ends up reported by the press - - where the matter is presented to the Ethics Commission to determine whether there is probable cause to prosecute.

A concerned citizen can easily file an ethics complaint. But they may no longer do so anonymously.

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Legislative Update (continued) Funding to provide a school nurse for every school More funding for College & Career Readiness Grants to fund College & Career Ready Indicators now required by law for graduation All told, ALSDE’s FY2025 requests are a $540 million increase over FY2024 appropriations. Legislators have said for the last two years that schools must brace themselves for the coming “fiscal cliff,” and that we should not ask the Legislature to pay for personnel hires made with COVID dollars once that funding ends. However, many systems used temporary federal funds to pay for positions and obligations the Legislature has mandated, such as reading coaches, math coaches, and summer instructional camps. Others the state ought to fund – adequate school administrators, nurses for every school, career coaches – but so far has not. We need your voice to be one more in the chorus explaining to legislators why these requests are needed in Alabama schools.

Preparation Starts Now Over the next several months, reach out to your school’s state legislators (find his/her name here). Introduce yourself if they don’t already know you and let them know what school and system you represent. Check in with them every few weeks over the next few months, sharing the successes and shortcomings of your school. You are

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the expert of your domain, and your legislators need to know you are a trusted resource they can call when they have education questions. And when legislators know that a real need is present in their schools, and that those budget requests aren’t just an abstract dollar amount, they can confidently stand up and fight for the funding to meet those needs.

We have scheduled Advocacy Days for each affiliate to engage with legislators here in Montgomery. Each day we’ll have members come in two waves, morning and afternoon, overlapping in the middle for lunch. When you get to the office, we’ll brief you on what you need to know and equip you with talking points to take to the State House. We’ll sit in on education committee meetings and walk the halls so that you can talk with your school’s legislators here. Then we’ll reconvene at the office to debrief what you and your legislators talked about. These meetings are also an opportunity for the affiliates to weigh in with the CLAS advocacy team on how pending legislation may impact their schools. Check out the sidebar to see which dates your affiliate is scheduled to be here and go ahead and mark them on your calendar.

As a former classroom teacher, I know how hard it can be to get out of the building, but your presence here will make a powerful impression on your legislators.

As always, email me at whitney@clasleaders.org if you have questions.

Winter Issue 2024

Ask us about Immersive Learning!

Helping Put the Pieces Together in the Classroom Since 2012

Active Learning | STEM/STEAM | Early Literacy | Esports Professional Learning

Making a Difference for Alabama Classrooms www.PowerUpEDU.com

Legal Forum (continued) provide a barrier against monetary awards under Title IX, which requires a showing of the very high standard of “deliberate indifference” by school officials regarding student-on-student harassment. However, this is not the only duty the act places on school personnel.

Elsewhere, the act prohibits a list of behaviors, including bullying. Section § 16-28B-4(a) recites: “No student shall engage in or be subjected to bullying, intimidation, violence, or threats of violence on or off of school property, on a school bus, or at any schoolsponsored function by any other student in his or her school system.” The next provision recites: “No person shall engage in reprisal, retaliation, or false accusation against a victim, witness, or other person who has reliable information about an act of bullying, violence, or threat of violence.” (Section § 16-28B-4(b). These prohibited behaviors are dealt with through the conduct code, as they were by the elementary school in the recent 11th Circuit case.

Section § 16-28B-2 of the anti-bullying law asserts that the Legislature intended that a filing of a complaint of bullying should be “in writing and submitted by the affected student, or the parent or guardian of the affected student, and not by an education employee on behalf of an affected student or his or her parent or guardian.” However, a provision describing a model policy prohibiting bullying, violence, and threats of violence requires “a clearly defined procedure for students to use in reporting bullying, including, but not limited to (emphasis added), written reports on local board approved complaint forms and written reports of instances of bullying, intimidation, violence and threats of violence based on the personal characteristics of a student.” (Section § 16-28B-5(11)). Therefore, the “but not limited to” language indicates that written reports are not the only means of reporting bullying, intimidation, violence and threats of violence. Clearly, the Legislature did not intend for the duty of school personnel with respect to bullied students to begin with a written report on the school district’s form. Section §16-28B-6 specifies other duties for school personnel, including: promoting a school environment free of harassment, intimidation, violence, and threats of violence; develop evidence-based practices to prevent

Winter Issue 2024

the negative behaviors; incorporate civility, citizenship, and character education into the curriculum; and, report to the local board and other authorities. The Legislature seems to be asking school leaders to lead their schools to develop cultures of safety and security for all students, regardless of the personal characteristics of students that make the students a target for other students. Section § 16-28B-4(d) requires, at the beginning of each school year, each school to programmatically address the issue of bullying and school violence with faculty and students.

Section § 16-28B-8(13) requires annual training for all certified school employees in suicide awareness and prevention. Changing culture is hard work, centered on repeated expressions of what we value. One of the first lessons in basic educational leadership is that safety and security is foundational for everything else we do.

Checking the boxes annually on “addressing bullying and school violence” or on “suicide awareness and prevention” does not change a culture.

Section § 16-28B-5(13) requires the model policy “to include a procedure for the development of a nonexhaustive list of specific personal characteristics of a student which may often lead to bullying. Based upon experience, a local board of education may add to, but not remove, characteristics from the list. The additional characteristics or perceived characteristics that cause bullying shall be identified by the local board on a case-by-case basis and added to the local board policy.” This provision can be read as a requirement, minimally, that school leaders identify, after-the-fact, those students who are more likely to be bullied or harassed. From a cultural leadership perspective, however, it is likely that what the Legislature is seeking is a school environment in which all students, regardless of their personal characteristics, are accepted, valued, and can expect to be educated in a school environment in which they can all feel safe and secure. In our school visits around the State, we have witnessed leadership teams—in public, private, parochial, and charter schools—in which a culture of acceptance, being valued, and feeling safe and secure is central and primary in everything else that goes in that school. For all of us, that is our primary duty.

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Upcoming Events November 2023 Leadership Institute: Everything You Need to Know about ChatGPT: The Hottest (and Scariest) Technology of 2023 Prattville, AL

January 2024 NOV 01

Leadership Institute: Everything You Need to Know about ChatGPT: The Hottest (and Scariest) Technology of 2023 Huntsville, AL

NOV 02

AASSP/AAMSP Fall Conference Orange Beach, AL

NOV 05-08

AAESA Fall Instructional Leadership Conference Orange Beach, AL

NOV 12-15

ALA504 Empower Hour #4 Webinar

NOV 16

LEArn & LEAd Gadsden, AL

NOV 16

LEArn & LEAd Auburn, AL

NOV 17

Lunch & Learn: QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer): Keys to Preventing Suicide Webinar

NOV 30

December 2023

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CLAS Secretaries Conference Huntsville, AL

DEC 06-07

Alabama Association of 504 Coordinators Conference Birmingham, AL

DEC 06-08

Lunch & Learn: Stakeholders Taking Ownership of Their Schools Webinar

JAN 05

Leadership Institute: Whole School Wellness: Beyond Self-Care Daphne, AL

JAN 09

Leadership Institute: Whole School Wellness: Beyond Self-Care Prattville, AL

JAN 10

Leadership Institute: Whole School Wellness: Beyond Self-Care Florence, AL

JAN 11

LEArn & LEAd Birmingham, AL

JAN 17

CLAS Assistant Principals Conference Mobile, AL

JAN 17-18

LEArn & LEAd Florence, AL

JAN 18

AASPA Winter Conference Montgomery, AL

JAN 24-26

CLAS Assistant Principals Conference Florence, AL

JAN 24-25

CLAS Assistant Principals Conference Opelika, AL

JAN 30-31

Winter Issue 2024

February 2024

March 2024

Lunch & Learn: Upping Your D and I Game: Benefits of Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace Webinar

FEB 01

Lunch & Learn: Strategies to Increase Teacher Retention at Your School Webinar

MAR 01

CLAS Culture Training (Day 1 of 2) Montevallo, AL

FEB 5

CLAS Culture Training (Day 2 of 2) Montevallo, AL

MAR 04

Leadership Institute: Current Developments in Special Education Law Hoover, AL

FEB 07

CLAS Law Conference Prattville, AL

MAR 05

Leadership Institute: Current Developments in Special Education Law Prattville, AL

FEB 08

AAPASS Spring Conference Mobile, AL

MAR 05-08

Leadership Institute: Current Developments in Special Education Law Daphne, AL

FEB 09

Leadership Institute: Embracing Change and Staying Resilient Florence, AL

MAR 06

Alabama Conference on Grading and Assessment for Learning (ACGAL) TBD

FEB 09-10

Leadership Institute: Embracing Change and Staying Resilient Prattville, AL

MAR 07

Principals Leadership Symposium Prattville, AL

FEB 12-13

Leadership Institute: Embracing Change and Staying Resilient Daphne, AL

MAR 08

ALA-EL Winter Conference Tuscaloosa, AL

FEB 12-13

ALA-CASE Spring Conference Birmingham, AL

FEB 25-27

LEArn & LEAd (Teachers ONLY) Tuscaloosa, AL

FEB 28

AASCD Curriculum & Instruction Spring Bootcamp Virtual

FEB 29

LEArn & LEAd (Teachers ONLY) Tuscaloosa, AL

FEB 29

April 2024 Lunch & Learn: Leaders in Action: Four Steps to Address the Needs of Our English Learners Webinar

APR 03

Leadership Institute: Summer Learning from Compliance to Core Strategy for Addressing Achievement Gaps Florence, AL

APR 16

Leadership Institute: Summer Learning from Compliance to Core Strategy for Addressing Achievement Gaps Prattville, AL

APR 17

Leadership Institute: Summer Learning from Compliance to Core Strategy for Addressing Achievement Gaps Daphne, AL

APR 18

ACTA Spring Conference Orange Beach, AL

APR 17-20

May 2024 Lunch & Learn: Updates from the ALSDE Webinar

MAY 07

June 2024 CLAS Convention Mobile, AL

Winter Issue 2024

JUN 09-12

27

Dr. Demica Sanders

Director of Professional Learning CLAS

Think Strong.

Be Strong.

F i ni s h Stro n g .

On most Friday nights, you will catch me cheering the Clay Chalkville Cougars to a win against various opponents. My daughter, Kameron, is a band student and hearing them play is the highlight of my night. I get excited as I watch the bands battle, playing some of my favorite tunes- especially the drum line. My daughter is a member of the drum line and I do not care what anyone says, the drumline is the heart and beat of the band!

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Winter Issue 2024

At the beginning of the 4th quarter, you will often see football players, band members and fans alike holding up their four fingers. Everyone who sees this knows that we are in the final quarter of the game.

For the winning team, the 4th quarter is a time for intense playing to hold onto the win. For the loosing team, the 4th quarter is a time for intense play to take the lead. Either way it goes, it is a time for intense play ensuring that everyone finishes strong.

As you enter the 4th quarter, I want to provide you with some words of wisdom from Tasha McDonald to help you finish strong!

Welcome to the final quarter of the year 2023! In just a few months, we will be entering a new year, filled with new challenges and opportunities. We may have had our ups and downs this year, but we have made it this far, which is something to be proud of.

Even with everything that is happening, it’s important to remember that we still have time left in the year to make progress towards our goals.

Reflection: As we enter the last quarter

of the year, this is a great time to reflect on the goals we set for ourselves earlier in the year. What have we accomplished so far? What can we do to continue making progress towards our goals? Take some time to review the actions you have taken so far and identify what worked and what didn’t. This will help you focus on what needs to be improved in the last few months of the year.

This could mean setting specific times for tasks or delegating responsibilities to others. By prioritizing your time, you will be able to avoid feeling overwhelmed, and it will allow you to focus on the things that matter most to you.

Celebrate: Take a moment to

acknowledge and celebrate the progress you›ve made so far, no matter how small.

Celebrating your achievements can be a great motivator to keep pushing forward.

Celebrating helps you realize that you are doing well, and more importantly, it gives you the encouragement to continue moving forward. Treat yourself and continue to work through the last few months of the year!

Stay positive: Finally, as we head

towards the end of the year, it›s essential to maintain a positive and optimistic attitude. The last few months of the year can be stressful, and it’s easy to get burnt out. But by staying positive and optimistic, you will be able to keep going strong.

Believe in yourself and trust that you can accomplish what you set out to do.

As we welcome the final quarter of the year 2023, let us approach this time with a refreshed mindset and renewed energy. With less than two months left in the year, we still have time to make progress towards our goals. Take the time to reflect, set new goals, prioritize tasks, celebrate achievements, and maintain Goal setting: Now is also a good time to a positive attitude. With this in mind, we can continue set new goals for the remaining months to push forward and end the year strong. until the year ends. Take the learnings from your reflection and apply them to I’m cheering for you. Keep going strong! As always, setting new goals. Make sure they are if CLAS can ever do anything for you, please do realistic, specific, and measurable. Setting new goals will give you something to not hesitate to contact us and remember to FINISH work towards and keep you motivated for STRONG! the rest of the year.

Prioritize: As we all know, the holidays can be a particularly busy time. It›s essential to prioritize your time and activities to ensure that you continue making progress towards your goals.

Winter Issue 2024

Tasha McDonald is the owner of Maximized Growth, LLC. She provides training and development that specializes in leadership development, strategic communications, and team unity.

29

American Fidelity Assurance

Since 1960, American Fidelity has focused on providing a different opinion for school districts and currently serves 4,300 districts across the country.

205-847-2762 john.cole@americanfidelity.com www.americanfidelity.com

American Reading Company

33HelpME

Panic Alert Button -- The NEXT STEP in school safety America’s Favorite, Fastest and Easiest way to call for HELP in classrooms.

Barry Peterson (813) 822-0045 info@33helpme.com www.33helpme.com

Abl

Partnering with Abl will increase each student’s access to college and career readiness pathways, maximize district use of resources, and empower leaders to meet goals.

Dawn Thompson (404) 906-1984 dthompson@ablschools.com https://www.ablschools.com/

ACCESS Virtual Learning, Madison City Schools ACCESS Virtual Learning is an initiative of ALSDE. Its primary goal is to provide equal access to high quality instruction.

Maria Kilgore (256) 797-4946 mdkilgore@madisoncity.k12.al.us https://www.madisoncity.k12.al.us/Domain/21

Adams Learning Resources

Livestream Learning Studio for grades K-5. ACT I: Grades K-2 focus on literacy and elements of story. ACT II: Grades 3-5 focus on STEM enrichment.

Matt Adams (205) 936-0552 dadams@adamslearningresources.com www.livestreamlearningstudio.com www.scholarchip.com

Addiction Prevention Coalition

APC is a non-profit community resource that aims to eliminate addiction through our in-school prevention programs, educational events, and our collection of support services.

Carie Wimberly (205) 874-8498 carie@apcbham.org https://apcbham.org/

30

Age of Learning, Inc.

Age of Learning® is the leading education technology innovator, creating engaging and effective learning resources to help children build a strong foundation for academic success.

Rachel Hursh (866) 788-8868 rachel.hursh@aofl.com https://www.ageoflearning.com/schools/

Alabama Alliance of Black School Educators

AL-ABSE is a professional education organization that serve educators of all races to help eradicate the achievement gaps among African American students in Alabama schools.

Fred Primm (251) 583-7941 fredprimm@al-abse.org www.al-abse.org

ARC Core® is a K–12 high-quality curriculum, available in English & Spanish, designed to accelerate learning, dramatically improving outcomes for both students and teachers.

Tiffany Burney (610) 992-4150 tiffany.burney@americanreading.com https://www.americanreading.com/

American Village Citizenship Trust

As Alabama’s Semiquincentennial Celebration Capitol, the American Village will be providing resources to registered schools across the state in preparation for America’s 250th birthday.

Natalie Steed (205) 665-3535 nsteed@americanvillage.org www.americanvillage.org

Amp Up Arts

Amp Up Arts focuses on statewide development of arts education for preK-12 Alabama schools through networking, advocacy, and professional development of teachers and teaching artists.

Ashley Lucier (334) 475-9202 info@ampuparts.org www.instagram.com/ampuparts

Alabama Best Practices Center

Auburn University

Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education

Bailey Education Group, LLC

The ABPC provides networked professional learning to educators across Alabama.

Stoney Beavers, Ph.D. (334) 279-1886 dakota@aplusala.org https://aplusala.org/best-practices-center/

High-quality early education provides the foundation for student success. A seamless pre-k to 3rd grade continuum aligns a comprehensive approach during children’s greatest growth years.

Ami Brooks (334) 531-5972 ami.brooks@ece.alabama.gov https://children.alabama.gov

American Book Company

ABC’s Alabama Workbooks, eBooks, and Online Testing cover 100% of the Alabama Course of Study Standards in preparation for the ACAP Summative assessments.

Kay Eze (888) 264-5877 abck12.com alabama@americanbookcompany.com americanbookcompany.com/alabama

Auburn University Educational Leadership Preparation Programs: M.Ed. Reduced Hour Option (RHO); Ed.S.; Ph.D. AES; Ph.D. ASC Amy Serafini (706) 573-7563 reamseh@auburn.edu https://education.auburn.edu/graduate-degree-cert/ administration-elementary-secondary-education-m-ed-m-s/ Bailey Education Group is committed to partnering with all schools and districts to improve the lives of all children through customized PD and teacher coaching.

Pat Ross (601) 707-5778 info@baileyarch.com baileyeducationgroup.com

Beable Life Ready Literacy

The Beable® Life-Ready Literacy® System is the revolutionary, multi-dimensional system that accelerates literacy with proven 5X Lexile growth, includes career development, SEL and ACT/SAT prep.

Carol Wilson (678) 523-0302 carol.wilson@beable.com https://beable.com/

Winter Issue 2024

Bill Miller Photographers Specializing in School and Senior photography for over 65 years.

Casie Miller Spencer 800-523-5960 50ddockery@gmail.com www.billmillerphotographers.com

Camp Explore for Educators, LLC

Camp Explore for Educators helps stressed educators find joy in their personal life and work so that they can meet the needs of their students.

Heather Moore (843) 460-5775 Heather@campexploreinfo.com www.campexploreinfo.com

Campus Benefits

Campus Benefits is a full-service employee benefits brokerage/consulting and compliance firm serving public school districts across the southeast.

Eric Tupper (404) 915-7812 etupper@campusbenefits.com www.campusbenefits.com

Capturing Kids’ Hearts

THOUSANDS OF CLASSROOMS. MILLIONS OF STUDENTS. Capturing Kid’s Hearts transforms classrooms and campuses into high-achieving centers of learning where kids really want to attend.

Rob Kirk (800) 316-4311 Rob.Kirk@CapturingKidsHearts.org https://www.capturingkidshearts.org

Classworks

Classworks® is an online MTSS program that includes academic screeners, individualized instruction, progress monitoring, SEL and PBIS tools, and reporting.

David Constantine 251-545-9903 dconstantine@classworks.com https://www.curriculumadvantage.com/classworks

DreamBox Learning

DreamBox provides schools with high-quality adaptive learning solutions for math & reading, proven to accelerate student growth. Visit www.dreambox.com for more information.

Lindsey Hackbarth (513) 913-8133 lindsey.hackbarth@dreambox.com https://www.dreambox.com/

Cognia provides a holistic approach to continuous improvement that encompasses accreditation and certification, assessment, professional learning, and customized improvement services.

Jeff Langham (334) 201-5763 jeff.langham@cognia.org cognia.org

Curriculum Associates

Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools..

Kelly-Ann Parson 205-949-7744 kparson@cainc.com www.curriculumassociates.com

Winter Issue 2024

Founded in 1945, Horace Mann offers affordable auto and home insurance, as well as retirement strategies and financial wellness education.

Leslie Weitle (217) 789-2500 association.relations@horacemann.com horacemann.com ®

Edmentum

Edmentum is the leading provider of K-12 digital curriculum partnering with educators to create instructional technology that is individualized and aligned to state standards.

Dee Dee Jones (800) 447-5286 deedee.jones@edmentum.com www.edmentum.com

Ellevation Education

Ellevation is the nation’s leading K-12 software solution dedicated to helping educators and English learners achieve their highest aspirations.

La-Toya Facey-Walker (617) 307-5755 kayla.fontalvo@ellevationeducation.com https://ellevationeducation.com/home/default

Flight Works Alabama

We Build It Better is an all-inclusive 18-week, industrydesigned educator-developed, curricular experience that engages middle school students in a work-like STEAM environment.

Robin Fenton (251) 379-1034 robin@flightworksalabama.com www.webuilditbetter.org

FOCUS Program

FOCUS empowers students to successfully lead the prevention of adolescent risk behaviors through skill-based learning as an elective class or extra-curricular activity.

Sue Jones (256) 453-0655 sjones@thefocusprogram.com www.thefocusprogram.com

Giffen Recreation Inc Cognia

Horace Mann Companies

Giffen Recreation is a full-service Playground contractor located in Pelham, Alabama. We specialize in Poligon Pavilions, Little Tikes Playgrounds, Fabric Shades, Safety Surfacing, and more!

Tom Millard (205) 982-6233 Tom@giffenrec.net www.giffenrecreation.com

Great Southern Recreation

We design, sell and build commercial playgrounds, splash pads, site amenities, pavilions and sunshades.

Abby Vance (800) 390-8438 Abby@greatsouthernrec.com greatsouthernrec.com

Hammill Recreation, LLC

Playgrounds, shades, site furnishings, and surfacing for elementary schools and First Class Pre-K Classrooms.

Angela Collins (205) 706-3993 playgrounds@hammill.net www.hammill.net

Imagine Learning

Imagine Learning provides digital-first PreK–12 learning solutions for core instruction, supplemental and intervention, courseware, and virtual school services. We serve 15 million students nationwide.

Steve Santora (201) 577-2514 steve.santora@imaginelearning.com www.imaginelearning.com

Iron City Studios

Iron City Studios is a SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPANY located in Hoover, AL. We proudly service Hoover City Schools, Shelby County Schools, JefCoEd and more.

Alanna Rose (205) 783-5281 info@ironcitystudios.com www.ironcitystudios.com

IXL Learning

IXL is personalized learning. With a comprehensive K-12 curriculum, individualized guidance, and real-time analytics, IXL meets the unique needs of each learner.

David Mickelsen (352) 949-0898 davidm@ixl.com www.IXL.com

Jumpstart Test Prep

Jumpstart ACT & ACT WorkKeys on demand review empowers teachers with curriculum & assessments enabling the most improvement in the least amount of review time.

George Kushner (833) 835-8329 sha@jumpstarttestprep.com jumpstarttestprep.com

Just Right Reader

Science of Reading decodables with over 410+ researchbased titles filled with vibrant illustrations, engaging authentic stories, and diverse characters representing students in America’s schools.

Pam McAuley (813) 928-4083 pam@justrightreader.com https://justrightreader.com/

Karen Maury Jewelry

We do onsite engraving on sterling silver jewelry Karen Maury (205) 790-8349 kayrena16@gmail.com

31

KIDaccount, LLC

KIDaccount is a complete, customizable daily school safety and dismissal system that accounts for all souls on campus – all day, every day.

Keith Petty (573) 756-3131 kpetty@kidaccount.com www.kidaccount.com

Kids First Education, LLC

KIDS 1st was founded out of a desire to improve teaching and learning and we provide teaching and learning solutions for administrators, teachers, & students.

Reeda Betts (601) 765-5437 info@kidsfirst.llc https://kidsfirst.llc/

Lathan Architects

Lathan Architects is a full-service design firm based in Hoover, Alabama offering a comprehensive range of services to suit the individual needs of each client.

Barry Davis (205) 988-9112 bdavis@lathanassociates.com www.lathanassociatesarchitects.com

Learning Blade

Learning Blade is a system of interactive lessons and activities for 5th to 9th graders where students learn about STEM and Computer Science careers.

Scott Mains (423) 521-2309 info@learningblade.com www.LearningBlade.com

LEGO Education

Rethink STEAM learning and spark joy in the classroom.

LEGO® Learning System, students’ knowledge, skills, and confidence grow with love of learning year after year.

Felicia Bustle (843) 290-3526 felicia.bustle@lego.com education.lego.com/en-us

Lexia Learning

Lexia Learning is committed to helping all students become proficient readers and confident learners. Lexia empowers the literacy educators who are essential to student success.

Leigh Ann Smith (847) 977-1613 leighAnn.smith@lexialearning.com www.lexialearning.com

Lifetouch School Photography and Yearbooks School Photography and Yearbooks Emalee Buckner (865) 675-6352 EXT 25212 emalee.buckner@shutterfly.com www.lifetouch.com

Maximized Growth, LLC

Opportunity to bring visibility and awareness of available courses centered around Leadership Development, Communication, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (all PLUapproved courses) Tasha Scott (334) 669-3252 tasha@maximizedgrowthllc.com www.maximizedgrowthllc.com

32

McWane Science Center

Presentation Solutions, Inc.

Office of Prosecution Services

Progress Learning

McWane Science Center is driven by an educational purpose: to provide science education experiences,tools and resources to teachers and students through fieldtrips and outreach programs.

Roxanne Shuler (205) 714-8371 rshuler@mcwane.org www.mcwane.org The HERO program is a statewide Certified Facility Dog Program to assist in helping victims throughout the criminal process.

Tamara Martin (334) 242-4191 tamara.martin@alabamada.gov opsheroinfo.org

OnToCollege

Increase ACT/SAT scores with OnToCollege’s tested and proven materials. Average ACT score jump is 2 points.

Many students increase 3-5 points.

Roger Reid (870) 834-7635 roger@ontocollege.com www.ontocollege.com

Pearson Assessments

Pearson Assessments solutions, including aimswebPlus and NNAT3, are designed to provide the insights educators need to be able to test less and teach more.

Melissa Haney (804) 912-3627 melissa.haney1@pearson.com www.pearsonassessments.com

Playworld Preferred

A distributor of Playworld Systems playground equipment for the state of Alabama.We also provide a variety of other outdoor recreational equipment,safety surfacing and installation services.

Jeff Wingo (800) 459-7241 info@playworldpreferred.com www.playworldpreferred.com

We are the company who sells the full-color indoor/ outdoor ColorPro Poster Printers, the Recognizer Ultra Award System & the CoolLam non-heat and non-electric laminators!

Steven Sanders (800) 280-7809 steven@presentationsolutions.com presentationsolutions.com Progress Learning provides a comprehensive, standardsaligned instructional resource and content solution for grades K-12.

Zoe McCullough (415) 493-8825 zoe.mccullough@progresslearning.com https://progresslearning.com/

Publishers’ Warehouse

Publishers’ Warehouse is Alabama’s one-stop shop for digital (EBSCOed) and print textbooks and instructional materials for K-12 schools in Alabama.

Patrick Chappell (205) 516-5821 pchappell@ebsco.com publisherswarehouse.com

QuantHub

QuantHub provides self-paced and self-contained instruction in topics such as data visualization, statistics, and machine learning.

Veronique Brown (205) 335-2285 kweed@quanthub.com www.quanthub.com

Reading Horizons

Offers a foundational reading program that can help all students reach proficiency by the end of third grade, while also addressing gaps in older learners.

Walker Hoopes (385) 287-4781 info@readinghorizons.com www.readinghorizons.com

PowerSchool

PowerSchool (NYSE: PWSC) is the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America.

Jenny Scott (877) 873-1550 jenny.scott@powerschool.com www.powerschool.com

PowerUpEDU

Focused on education & achievement, delivering interactive technology solutions and coaching for classrooms while creating fun & engaging learning environments.

Jerry Gaillard (888) 517-3824 debbie@powerupedu.com powerupedu.com

Recreational Concepts, LLC

Playgrounds, site amenities, splash play, pavilions, shade, surfacing and much more.

Melanie Stewart (205) 202-8671 melanie@rec-concepts.com www.rec-concepts.com

Renaissance

Renaissance is a global leader in assessment, reading, math, and early literacy solutions for pre-K–12 schools and districts.

Karen Winn (256) 283-1935 karen.winn@renaissance.com www.renaissance.com

Winter Issue 2024

Samford University School of Education Samford University School of Education Graduate Programs Dana Mungenast (205) 726-4337 dgmungen@samford.edu https://www.samford.edu/education/default

Scholastic Inc

For over 100 years, Scholastic offers the support and resources all children deserve to meet their needs, honor their voices, and empower them always.

Ms. Lee Berlin (205) 209-2406 lberlin@scholastic.com www.scholastic.com

SchoolsPLP

We offer almost 2000 PreK -12 online courses with multiple instructional designs to a single interface. Our courses include core, elective, credit recovery and CTE. Eric Moon (770) 789-1941 eric@schoolsplp.com schoolsplp.com

Skillastics

For over 20 years, Skillastics has provided simple, easyto-implement physical activity resources and curriculum for physical education, afterschool and classroom instructors.

Suzanne Stone (256) 426-3579 sstone@skillastics.com www.skillastics.com

Strawbridge Studios

Strawbridge Studios, Inc. is a 4th generation, family owned, American school portrait and yearbook company located in Durham, N.C. Todd Diefenderfer (334) 301-3562 todd.diefenderfer@strawbridge.net www.strawbridge.net

StreamVu Ed

StreamVu Ed is the leading service provider of educational video management, distribution and storage. From morning announcements to school board meetings. StreamVu Ed, better communication.

Amie Briggs (678) 520-3662 abriggs@streamvu.com www.streamvued.com

Stride Learning Solutions

Stride Learning Solutions creates modern learning for any learner, anywhere, with blended and online education to broaden their skills, options, and opportunities.

Joseph Sveum (407) 402-7436 jsveum@k12.com StrideLS.com

Learning Solutions

Studies Weekly

Studies Weekly creates award-winning K-6 elementary social studies, science, and well-being curriculum uniquely presented in a periodical format that pairs with an online learning platform.

Rachel McInnis (801) 494-4396 conferences@studiesweekly.com https://www.studiesweekly.com

Winter Issue 2024

Terrell Enterprises, Inc.

Twin States Recreation, LLC

The Alabama Best Practices Center

UA Early College

The Hope Institute

University of Louisiana Monroe Online

We provide school furniture, equipment, supplies and learning resources along with turn-key solutions and services for the PreK-12 market.

Al Brannon 334-382-7415 al@terrellenterprises.com www.terrellenterprises.com The Alabama Best Practices Center offers impactful, collaborative, and data-driven professional learning opportunities for central office and school-based educators.

Dr. Stoney Beavers (334) 279-1886 dakota@aplusala.org aplusala.org/best-practices-center The Hope Institute inspires transformational change by introducing administrator and educator teams to the process of building a character-focused school culture.

Patricia Simpson (205) 726-2564 info@hopeinstitute.org www.hopeinstitute.org

The University of Alabama College of Education

The College of Education offers teacher education, kinesiology, and educational neuroscience programs to provide teaching, research, and service for state, regional, national, and international interests.

Carlton McHargh (205) 348-0549 edustudentservices@ua.edu education.ua.edu

The University of Alabama Online

The University of Alabama offers over 20 top-ranked graduate education degrees in flexible online and hybrid formats with affordable tuition so you can earn a premier degree around your schedule.

Kathryn Morrow (800) 467-0227 online@ua.edu online.ua.edu/clas

ThriveWay

Peer Helpers PLUS is an evidence-based K-12th grade prevention and support program equipping students to navigate a wide range of emotional, societal, and behavioral challenges.

Ruby McCullough (251) 604-3781 allison@thriveway.com Thriveway.com

Transaction Point, LLC

Come see the latest Campus Branding product ideas to help you build tradition and support your staff and students.

Logo Mats, Apparel, and Appreciation Gifts Britt Matthiessen (800) 396-7301 jbm@transactionpoint.net www.transactionpoint.net

We create innovative play environments for children of all abilities. Twin States Recreation, LLC is the only authorized dealer in Alabama for B.C.I. Burke Company.

Max Maxwell (205) 453-4321 max@twinstatesrec.com www.twinstatesrec.com UA Early College allows students to earn college credit while they are in high school and supports them to transition into college.

Taylor Eppler (205) 348-7083 lhporter@ua.edu uaearlycollege.ua.edu Online Masters & Doctoral Programs within the College of Education Brandi Tryon (225) 218-7390 brandi.tryon@apdegrees.com online.ulm.edu/brandi

VCM Plumbing Solutions

Elkay Bottle Water Cooler Stations, Isimet Lab Safety Controls for School laboratories.

Bill Cone (205) 324-0669 billcone@vcmsales.com www.vcm.org

Verkada

Verkada’s 7product lines - video security cameras, doorbased access control, environmental sensors, alarms, visitor management, mailroom and intercom - all on a single software platform.

Austin Baker (704) 962-7254 austin.baker@verkada.com verkada.com

Virco

Amercian owned 70 yr old manufacturer of classroom furniture with local support to listen and offer suggestions for your classrooms, library, cafeteria and admin suite.

John Havicus 205-721-0514 johnhavicus@virco.com www.virco.com

Ward Scott Morris

Ward Scott Morris is a full design Architectural firm with 40 years in the K-12 market.

Carol Coleman (205) 577-7027 carol@wardscottmorris.com www.wardscottmorris.com

Westcott Studios

School photography. All photography needs for schools in the south.

Chris Westcott (256) 441-8741 cwestcott1@gmail.com www.westcottstudios.net

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It’s Renewal Time!

You have some amazing benefits with your CLAS membership. Don’t lose them. Renew today!

Benefits for all members: • • • • • • • •

Discounts on professional learning activities sponsored by CLAS Access to CLAS communications and updates The quarterly magazine, CLAS School Leader Complimentary subscription to The Main Idea, a monthly email newsletter with book summaries on the latest education-related books.

Access to membership directory online Access to CLAS job bank Access to networking opportunties Discounts on insurance through Horace Mann Companies

Additional Benefits For Individual and Institutional members • Legal defense fund • Legal counsel, information, and support • Contract review service

visit us online at www.clasleaders.org/membership