The 2021-2022 school year is off to a great start in Elmore County! We opened on August 9 to full in-person instruction, and all schools reported smooth openings. We are experiencing record enrollment in our brick-and-mortar schools as well as The EDGE, our virtual school for grades K-12. The Elmore County Technical Center has nearly doubled its enrollment over the past several years, reaching a new high of approximately 1,000 students in the 12 Career-Technical Education programs offered on its campus. In keeping with our commitment to provide our students with opportunities to develop 21st century skills, we are excited to open new STEM labs with dedicated STEM teachers in our four middle schools. Students will be able to participate in engaging activities that will help them develop
River Region Parents I September 2021
21st century skills – the knowledge, life skills, career skills, habits, and traits they need to be successful as they move on to college, the workforce, and adult life – which are applicable to everything they do. A few examples of these skills include critical thinking, communication skills, problem solving, collaboration, technology skills and digital literacy, social skills, self-direction, etc. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of these learning opportunities for years to come. Last year about this time, I shared three major construction projects that would be starting soon: the addition of a new band/choral room at Stanhope Elmore High School, construction of the new Redland Middle School, and a 45,000 square foot addition to the Elmore County Technical Center. I’m happy to report that the band/choral room is officially complete and students at SEHS are enjoying their new space. Redland Middle School is on track to open for students in grades 5-8 in August of 2022, and the Elmore County Technical Center addition is scheduled to open in January
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2022. Finally, the new Wetumpka Municipal Stadium, a collaborative effort between the City of Wetumpka, the Elmore County Commission, and the Elmore County Board of Education, hosted its first official high school football game, the Wetumpka High School home opener against Prattville High School on August 20, 2021. This new facility will replace Hohenberg Field for Wetumpka High School football games as well as be able to accommodate other outdoor sporting events such as soccer and track and field. We are looking forward to the 20212022 school year and the many opportunities it can provide our students to learn and grow. We are committed to work together for the benefit of all our students because our goal remains: Every Student Empowered. Every Student Succeeds.
Richard Dennis is the Superintendent of Education for Elmore County Schools. He is a 1983 graduate of Holtville High School. He served 21 years as a high school principal at Holtville High, Wetumpka High and most recently, Prattville High. He and wife, Leslie (also an educator) have three sons and a daughter.
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