Dr. Justin Hefner, Superintendent of Homewood City Schools and architect of ALSAIL’s organizational transition, has been named recipient of the 2026 CLAS Leadership Award, sponsored by Horace Mann Companies.
Dr. Vic Wilson, CLAS Executive Director from 2017 to 2025 and architect of the landmark Principals Act, has been honored with the 2026 Dr. James A. Street Award for his exemplary service to Alabama’s school leaders.
The Sheffield Education Foundation has been named recipient of the 2026 Little Red School House Award, recognizing more than three decades of investment in Sheffield City Schools — including over $300,000 given in the past three years alone.
The 2026 CLAS Convention is coming—and you won’t want to miss it. Flip through this issue to explore the full agenda, meet our keynote speakers, discover breakout sessions tailored for your leadership journey, and get all the details you need to register. Whether you’re a superintendent, principal, or school administrator, this convention brings Alabama’s education leaders together for learning, networking, and inspiration. Read on to plan your convention experience.
The House that Character Built: Developing Community with Heart and Service Talladega County Schools Principal: Mrs. Anna Jones Superintendent: Dr. Suzanne Lacey At Lincoln Elementary, community was strengthened through The House that Character Built. Serving 867 students in grades PK through 5, Lincoln Elementary revitalized its House System under the theme “8 Houses United as…
Fast Track FridaysColbert County SchoolsPrincipal: Mrs. Tracie WestSuperintendent: Mr. Nathan Fuller Hatton Elementary School (HES) created and implemented Fast Track Fridays, a student-centered intervention model designed to provide targeted, standards-aligned instruction, close skill gaps, and accelerate academic growth. Each Friday, all nonessential activities were paused to create a protected two-hour block of uninterrupted instructional time….
PUSH LeadershipSheffield City SchoolsPrincipal: Dr. Jill JohnsonSuperintendent: Dr. Carlos Nelson The PUSH Leadership Program was created to meet a critical need: supporting 5th- and 6th-grade girls during one of the most formative stages of their development. At this age, self-identity is emerging, confidence can decline, and social pressures intensify. Without intentional support, these challenges can…
ACT Bootcamp Cherokee County Schools Principal: Mr. Bobby Tittle Superintendent: Mr. Mike Welsh Leading up to the 2024-2025 school year, Cherokee County High School had been in the low seventies on the State Report Card for the previous three years, scoring a 70 in 2022 and a 73 in 2023 and 2024. A student-centered plan…
R.A.D.A.R. Character InitiativeMacon County SchoolsPrincipal: Mrs. Tiffany WilliamsSuperintendent: Dr. Melissa Williams Tuskegee Public School implemented the RADAR Character Initiative as a comprehensive, student-centered framework designed to transform school culture and accelerate academic achievement. RADAR (Respect, Accountability, Discipline, Acceptance, and Responsibility) was embedded into daily instruction and aligned with the school’s Continuous Improvement Plan. Students played…
Milestones and MasterpiecesSatsuma City SchoolsPrincipal: Mrs. Suzanne BahrSuperintendent: Mrs. Dana Price The Milestones and Masterpieces Student Showcases at Robert E. Lee Elementary were established to celebrate learning as a collective community experience. Originally designed to provide students with opportunities to share their work and to welcome families to campus, the initiative quickly evolved into a…
