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…

Momentum that MattersMarshall County SchoolsPrincipal: Mrs. Amanda HollawaySuperintendent: Dr. Cindy Wigley Momentum That Matters was a school-developed initiative at Brindlee Mountain Elementary School designed to strengthen student engagement, improve attendance, increase ownership of learning, and build a positive, unified school culture centered on collaboration, celebration, and continuous growth. A key component of the program was…

Advisory for the Win: Growing Student Leaders and a Positive School CultureHuntsville City SchoolsPrincipal: Mrs. Heather BardwellSuperintendent: Dr. Clarence Sutton Middle school students need connection and guidance, but busy families and technology have reduced daily, meaningful interactions. Recognizing this, Mountain Gap Middle School created an advisory program to teach communication, socialization, and leadership skills while…

Forging the Future: How the BEAT Center is Revolutionizing CTEFort Payne City SchoolsPrincipal: Mr. Scott TimmonsSuperintendent: Mr. Brian Jett The Building, Electric Vehicle, and Aviation Technology (BEAT) Center at Fort Payne High School transformed career and technical education by delivering a student-centered, hands-on learning experience aligned with high-demand industries. The program integrated three distinct pathways—Building…