Local music teacher attends LA ‘Woodlawn’ premiere

Local music teacher Haley Spates got to see herself perform on the big screen at the Oct. 5 premiere of Woodlawn.

Spates, who teaches music at Mt Laurel Elementary and Shelby Elementary, attended the premiere at the Bruin Theatre in Los Angeles with her daughter, Daley, and her boyfriend, Paul David Houston.

“We were able to walk the red carpet and also view the movie with the other actors and actresses there as well as the directors and producers,” Spates said.

Woodlawn follows the story of Birmingham’s Woodlawn High School, which was desegregated in 1973. The movie follows high school football player Tony Nathan – played by Shelby County native and former Alabama football player Caleb Castille – after he joins fellow African-American students at Woodlawn.

“The movie is amazing and is very inspirational. It is rated PG and is a family movie, so our students will be able to go and see it,” Spates said.

Spates comes to the big screen during the recreation of a football game between Woodlawn and its rival Banks High School. More than 40,000 fans attended the game on Nov. 8, 1974, making it the state’s largest crowd at a high school football game. She sings the national anthem before this game.

“I am so thankful for the experience and the chance to represent Mt Laurel Elementary and Shelby County Schools at this event,” Spates said.

Woodlawn will be in theatres on Oct. 16.