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Photo by Madison Miller
Superintendent Fuller explained the success of the school system over the past eight years.
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Photo by Madison Miller
Fox 6 news anchor Sarah Verser spoke at the 2015 State of the System Luncheon.
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Photo by Madison Miller
Oak Mountain graduate and Rhodes Scholar Ameen Barghi attended the luncheon with his mother.
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Photo by Madison Miller
3. Schools set up booths to showcase recent accomplishments.
Superintendent Randy Fuller spoke on the success of Shelby County Schools at its annual State of the System luncheon on April 15.
Eight years ago, Shelby County Schools announced plans to launch a new system focus on “preparing for an uncommon future.”
“We began seeing some of the things like the economic depression and we had to prepare as a school system so we could overcome those,” Fuller said.
The system knew that it would have to develop a new approach to insure the success of students in a struggling economy. Fuller explained their two-step approach to combating the economic downturn and other setbacks eight years ago.
First, the system identified local ties in each school and developed plans to connect them. Groups were organized on behalf of the schools including community stakeholders, parents, teacher and more. The groups set goals for the system and accomplished them.
“They created an environment for of success by continually accomplishing goals and it transcended into the students, into the community,” he said.
Next, Shelby County Schools invited members of the community who might not otherwise be involved into developing strategic plans. Leaders from the community, businesses, government and more were invited to use their expertise to develop strategies that make the system better in many areas.
“We survived and continued to do special things,” Fuller said. “At this point in time in 2015, we are still one of the most successful and well-respected school systems in the state of Alabama.”
The luncheon went on to outline the system’s accomplishments throughout the past year with focus on twelve areas, which all school systems need to thrive, Fuller said. Fuller outlined accomplishments in each area including communication, community partnerships, continuous improvement, curriculum/instruction/assessment, facilities, finance, governance and leadership, human resources, learning supports, professional learning, safety and discipline and support operations.
Fox 6 news anchor Sarah Verser also shared stories from her years covering schools across the state in her segment “What’s Right with Our Schools?” The segment began in 1999 and has featured several stories on Shelby County Schools.
“I had one news director tell me, ‘nobody cares about schools’ and I thought, ‘how could that be?’” Verser said. “…We’ve done thousands and thousands of stories on what’s right with our schools and Shelby County has been a huge part of that.”
This is the second year for the luncheon, which was organized by the Shelby County Schools Education Foundation.
For more information, visit shelbyed.k12.al.us.
