Student Spotlight – July 2024

With more than 170 rising 1st-8th graders in attendance, the 2024 Tigers in Training Baseball Camp was hosted at Auburn High School. With Varsity players leading the way, young athletes got an exclusive inside look at the Auburn High Baseball program. The emphasis was on hitting, fielding, and throwing through a series of dynamic drills and activities. This camp is always a great opportunity for future stars to learn, grow, and have a blast. ACS is always thrilled to see so much talent and enthusiasm as the next generation of Auburn Tigers benefit from the mentorship.

The 2024 Youth Cheer Camp kicked off with over 300 little girls jumping, shouting, and showing Auburn pride. Auburn High School’s Varsity Cheerleaders worked with young athletes, teaching them the basics of cheerleading while fostering confidence, building meaningful relationships, and having a ton of fun. It’s heartwarming to see the energy and enthusiasm as these future cheer stars learn and grow together. Seeing the next generation of cheerleaders train, with the talented Varsity team, is inspiring. Let’s cheer them on and celebrate their spirit and determination! Go Tigers!

Johni Broome, the All-American Basketball player for the Auburn Tigers, was a special guest speaker at J.F. Drake Middle School. Johni’s visit wasn’t just about basketball; it was about life lessons. He emphasized the importance of respect, hardwork, and staying on top of school assignments. His message on overcoming adversity, being a good teammate, and staying coachable resonated deeply with our students. Thank you, Johni, for taking the time to motivate and inspire the next generation! Your words will leave a lasting impact.

The Lee County Young Leaders program held its 2024 graduation ceremony, and seven students from Auburn High School were in the class. Throughout the school year, these students joined other high school students from across Lee County monthly to learn about different aspects of the community, including public safety, the judicial system, economic development, health and human services, and state and local government. During the program, Mary Margaret Buck was awarded a four-year scholarship to Auburn University for her individual participation and contribution to the Young Leaders program this year. ACS congratulates Ty Barnes, Will Bao, Emily Jiang, Mary Margaret Buck, Suyeon Shin, Harper Olsen, and JD Dallas for being community leaders!

Opelika City Schools proudly welcomes Mrs. Kristen Williams, as the new principal at Opelika Middle School. “We are excited to welcome Kristen Williams as the new principal of Opelika Middle School,” said Dr. Farrell Seymore, Superintendent of Opelika City Schools. “She is a compassionate educator with the highest of expectations for students, staff, and herself. Her leadership capacity coupled with a strong background in curricular development and student outcomes will be assets to Opelika Middle School and our school system.” Mrs. Williams has been an assistant principal at Auburn Junior High School (AJHS) since July 2021. Prior to her position at AJHS, she was an assistant principal at South Girard School in Phenix City, AL from June 2020 to June 2021, and an instructional coach at Phenix City Intermediate School from June 2019 to May 2020. Williams began her teaching career at Dadeville High School in 2012 but spent seven years at Opelika High School as a teacher of AP Government, AP Macroeconomics, and social science courses. “I am thrilled to return home to the Opelika City Schools family and would like to thank Dr. Seymore and the school board for this incredible honor. The middle grades are a pivotal time in a student’s life, and I strongly believe that relationships are the foundation for growth and success,” said Williams. “I look forward to fostering strong relationships with those I will serve and embrace this opportunity to lead OMS in the tradition of Opelika City Schools commitment to excellence.”

This year’s Superintendent Art Show, hosted at the Opelika Art Haus, was a huge success. The artwork displayed was a testament to our students’ creativity and talent. A huge thank you to our community members who joined us in celebrating this diverse array of artwork. Your support means the world to OCS!

Congratulations to the Auburn High School Class of 2024! Your hard work and dedication have paid off. As graduates, you’ve shown resilience, determination, and the spirit of excellence. Celebrate the memories you’ve made and the friendships forged as you close this chapter of life, and look forward to the journey ahead. ACS wishes all 707 graduates the best in their future endeavors!

J.F. Drake Middle School received the 2023-2024 Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools® award for the second year in a row! This distinction directly reflects the unwavering dedication and collaborative efforts of DMS students, staff, and the entire school community. The recognition of a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools® award is a testament to the campus community’s commitment to a positive and nurturing learning environment. National Showcase Schools undergo a meticulous selection process each year, evaluating essential performance indicators, collecting campus data, and seeking feedback from staff and students. The outcomes reflect the successful integration of the Capturing Kids’ Hearts® Process, showcasing each campus’s unique culture and climate. Auburn City Schools proudly commends DMS for its exceptional efforts to consistently create a secure, connected, and enthusiastic learning environment for our students!

Opelika High School recently hosted an Academic Signing Day for those seniors receiving academic, athletic, military, and performing arts scholarships. In addition, Awards Day was held to present seniors a variety of local scholarships. Thank you to the members of the community for sponsoring the scholarships for our students. Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

Educators are working diligently to provide remediation and intervention for elementary students to succeed this summer! Auburn City Schools’ Summer Reading and Math Camps start next week for students who need extra support in preparation for the next grade level. These camps will focus on personalized instruction, engaging activities, and targeted lessons to reinforce essential skills in reading and math. The goal is to ensure every student feels confident and ready to tackle new challenges in the upcoming school year. ACS thanks the teachers and coordinators for making summer fun and productive for young learners

OCS hosted a retirement tea at Fox Run School to honor the employees who are retiring this year. We appreciate your dedication to the children of the Opelika City Schools! Pictured front row: Veronica Hubbard, Margaret Purnell, Alice Meadows, Janet Powers, Lisa Morgan, Leanne Bugg, and Paris Mixon. Pictured back row: Nancy Murphy, John Lofland, Kathy Bailey, Amie McGuire, Lauri Tickal, and Debbie Burnham. Not pictured: Walter Lynn, Allison Haynie, and Connie Smith.

OCS welcomed one groovy visitor at our primary schools. Not only did we have the honor of hosting James Dean, the creative genius behind Pete the Cat, but he also shared his artistic abilities by demonstrating how he draws Pete himself! But that’s not all – James Dean’s visit was filled with inspiring words about following your dreams and embracing your uniqueness.
“No matter what happens, just keep walking along and singing your song.”

The Auburn High School Class of 2024 is comprised of 707 graduate candidates with more than $26 million in scholarship offers! The 2024 Graduation Commencement Ceremony took place May 23, in Duck Samford Stadium.
Auburn City Schools is proud of the Class of 2024 and all their accomplishments:
– 6 National Merit Finalists
– 5 National Merit Commended Scholars
– 6 National Merit Institutional-Endowed Scholarship Recipients
– 1 Presidential Scholar Nominee
– 194 Total Number of Colleges/Universities Represented
– 61% of the Senior Class was Awarded Scholarships
– 37 AP Scholars
– 11 AP Scholars w/Honor
– 18 AP Scholars w/Distinction
– 18 IB Diploma Candidates
– 6 United States Service Academy Appointments (1 Air Force Academy; 3 West Point; 2 Naval Academy)

We love to celebrate our St. Michael Catholic School moms. Thank you for your love, dedication, and support. Happy Mother’s Day!

4th graders created a STEM learning project by making solar oven cookers as part of their Culmination of Engineering Design unit. They all want S’MORE projects like this!

Seventeen students from across Alabama, including four from Auburn City Schools, attended the 2024 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held in May in Los Angeles. With more than 1,500 students from 64 countries, regions, or territories competing in the event, Annie Bao, Will Bao, John Parsons, and Kevin Yan earned the right to compete at this prestigious event by winning a top prize at the Greater East Alabama Science and Engineering or the Alabama State Science Fair earlier this spring.
John Parsons won the Soumyanath Memorial Award, presented by the family of Krishnamurthy Soumyanath (1957 – 2010), for the best project in Computer Engineering, “Detecting Forest Fires and Park Visitors in Distress Using Radio Systems.” Dr. Soumyanath was an Intel Fellow, and this prize honors the memory of an energetic and adventurous individual who inspired and mentored many young people to excel in all aspects of life.
Will Bao won the Grand Category Third Award titled “MATS050 — Machine-Learning-Driven Discovery of Novel Acoustic Metamaterials for Broadband Noise Mitigation.”
Both prizes included monetary awards of $3,000 and $1,000, respectively, for Auburn High School. ACS is proud of these students for representing science and engineering on a national stage!

Students at SMCS had the best day at the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center. They were able to explore the nature playground, take a hike, and learn about food chains and food webs; all while enjoying the beautiful day in God’s creation! We couldn’t have asked for a more fun and educational day!

Field day 2024 was a blast! What a great way to start our last week of school. Thank you to our parents and teachers for all of your help, it couldn’t happen without you!

This spring, Governor Kay Ivey, invited all fourth graders in the state of Alabama to participate in an art competition. The students were asked to use any medium they would like to capture either the state flower or the state bird in a piece of art. Our own Sherri Kate Robinson won 2nd place for her beautiful chalk, drawing of an Alabama Yellowhammer. Sherri Kate, her family and Mrs. Waters were invited to the Governor’s Mansion to attend an awards ceremony and tour the mansion.

ACA held our annual Spring Showcase alongside families and friends. The work and diligence our students carry throughout the academic year was evident and fruitful as each grade presented. A very big “job well done” to each and every ACA student! We are so very, very proud of each of you!

After final grades were entered and calculated, Cole Middleton and Susanna Washburn are tied as co-valedictorians for the Class of 2024, and Connor Hammett is ranked a close second as salutatorian! This is unprecedented at Trinity Christian School, but it is a testament to the abilities of these top three students. Congratulations to all of the students of the Class of 2024!

A retirement and service pin ceremony was held at the ACS Board of Education meeting and more than 40 employees were recognized! This event starts a new chapter in the lives of those who serve in ACS, from marking 20, 25, and 30 years of dedication to celebrating those embarking on new journeys in their retirement. ACS is grateful to have veteran educators who have been instrumental in shaping the future by positively impacting children daily. While it is always bittersweet to see our esteemed colleagues retire, we are filled with gratitude for their service and dedication.

Amari Bynum proudly signed his cross-country scholarship to Southern Union State Community College!

Trinity Christian School announces its senior graduation class of 2024. TCS is proud of all their hard work, determination, and perseverance. Good luck to our seniors on their next chapter.

Auburn’s Best After School Program and Summer Camp hosted a parents’ night out at Auburn Mixed Martial Arts this spring. The theme this Quarter was Ninja Obstacle Course. The kids had a lot of fun and we were able to donate proceeds to Jeter Primary in Opelika.

Dean Road Elementary School hosted a Mother’s Day Tea to honor all the incredible moms in our community. From the delightful sweet treats to the heartwarming musical performance by our talented students, the event was a true celebration of love, laughter, and engaging conversations. Each special guest was presented with a framed silhouette of their child and handprint finger paintings of bluebirds that read, “You’re the ‘tweetest’ mom ever.” In celebration of motherhood, ACS wishes everyone a wonderful Mother’s Day this weekend!

The Alabama State Department of Education hosted a spectacular event at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival to honor the dedication and excellence of educators during the 2024 Teacher of the Year Awards Program. Among the remarkable finalists, Pick Elementary’s very own Deana Hooks was recognized for her outstanding contributions to education, making it to the Final Four! Deana’s passion and commitment to her students truly shine through, and her impact extends far beyond the classroom. Congratulations, Deana, on this well-deserved recognition! Her dedication is inspirational and serves as a shining example of the incredible work happening in public schools every day.

The ACS Board of Education celebrates the 2024 Soccer State Champions and a national award-winning teacher. The Auburn High School Girls Varsity Soccer team won the 2024 AHSAA Class 7A State Championship against Hoover with a score of 1-nil. The Lady Tigers closed out their season in spectacular fashion with a regular-season record of 21-3-1 and the first-ever Blue Map trophy for girls’ soccer at AHS!
The NEA Foundation announced Kimberly Johnson, an interventionist and resource teacher at Auburn Junior High School, as the recipient of the 2024 NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence, one of public education’s top honors. Mrs. Johnson was presented with the award at the Salute to Excellence in Education Gala in Washington, D.C.

Auburn City Schools Child Nutrition Program Director Dr. Ashley Powell won an Auburn University College of Education Alumni Award! Dr. Powell’s dedication and commitment to education shines through her three degrees from Auburn University. She ensures cafeterias across the school system are staffed and prepared to serve students. All 14 schools recently received a rating of 100 during health inspections for Food Establishment Scores. ACS is proud to have her leading the way for Auburn City Schools at the local, state, and national levels!

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie… they might have the best day ever! On the last week of school, Mrs. Goodman’s PreK4 class read the book, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”, baked cookies, and dressed the part! What a great way to end the year!

It was a week of fun for the Lee-Scott fifth graders at the Alabama 4-H Science Center! With canoeing, archery, rock climbing, studying, fishing, learning survival skills and participating in team building challenges, this group of fifth grade students had an incredible week bonding together. Thank you to our chaperones and the fifth-grade teachers for making it a fun experience for our students!

OCS welcomes Bart Butler as new Head Baseball Coach at Opelika High School Bart Butler has been named the new head baseball coach at Opelika High School. “We are thrilled to welcome Bart Butler as the Head Baseball Coach at OHS. His experience coaching championship-level teams speaks volumes to his ability to develop student-athletes both on and off the field. Additionally, as a resident of Opelika, he is invested in the success of our schools and our athletic programs. We look forward to the positive impact he will make on our program,” said Kelli Fischer, Opelika High School Principal.
Butler has been a baseball coach at Central High School in Phenix City, AL for the past ten years. He served as Varsity Assistant Head Baseball Coach from 2018 to present, head coach for 9th grade in 2017, head coach for 7th and 8th grades in 2016, and head coach for 9th grade in 2015. Prior to coaching at Central High School, he coached at Sweet Water High School. “My family and I are excited to be joining the Opelika Bulldog family. Over the last 10 years, I’ve witnessed the unbelievable community support shown to both the school and the athletic programs, and I can’t wait to be a part of that,” stated Butler. “We are ready to work tirelessly to build a championship baseball program in Opelika. Go Dawgs!”
Coach Butler graduated from Central Alabama Community College in May 2008 with a general business degree and received his Bachelor of Business degree in Sports Management from Shorter University in 2010. Butler received a Masters of Business and Marketing Education degree from Auburn University in 2013. Coach Butler and his wife Katie live in Opelika and are proud parents to Easton (age 9) and Lily (age 6). Go Dawgs!

At the 4th-6th Grade Awards Day, students were recognized for all their accomplishments throughout the year in their classrooms and in PE. Officer Jon recognized the winners of the DARE essays as well among 5th Grade. With 6th Grade off to the Upper School, we’re already looking forward to the amazing things this group will accomplish. Congratulations on such hard work!

The end of the year means celebrating a job well done by so many Lower School students on their AR reading scores! Students that met their goals all year long celebrated with Mrs. Moore and inflatables inside the gym today. Great reading, LSA!

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, Opelika stands as an example of innovation and excellence, setting the standard for early childhood education. As the community looks towards the future, its dedication to providing the highest quality Pre-K experiences serves as a testament to the power of education.

From intricate artwork to self-written narratives, the Lee-Scott Academy 3rd Grade impressed their friends and family at their end of year showcase with a display of all their hard work this year. It has been a year to cherish in these classrooms from the first day of school to now!

The 2024 Mr. and Miss LSA, as voted upon by their senior classmates and Upper School faculty, are Miles Zachry & Kate Dickerson.
Mr. and Miss LSA must be well-rounded students with interests in a variety of extracurricular activities, must have maintained above-average grades in all academic areas, must have demonstrated an active role in leadership, and must possess good personal character, dedication, and personality that make them respected among classmates and teachers.
Congratulations to Miles & Kate!

Between Senior Awards Day & Graduation, Lee-Scott Academy was able to give out specific awards and honors to individual graduates in the Class of 2024.
I.J. Scott Award – Margaret Lyle & Wesley Matthews
Nancy Plant McLeod Award – Madison Meals & Travis Pham
Spirit of a Warrior – Skylah Harris & Miles Zachry
Ben J. Kirk Award – Isabella Lowery
AISA All-Academic Team Members: Isabella Lowery & Emily Yang
AISA Student-Athlete Awards: Madison Tausch, Kate Dickerson, Margaret Lyle, Wesley Matthews
Senior Masters Award Winners: Isabella Lowery (Math, Science), Christine Chang (English), Mia Grace Roberts (Senior High Art), Sophia Pugh (Social Studies), Emily Yang (Senior High Band)
Senior Distinguished Warrior Winners: Miles Zachry, Blythe Walls
AP Scholars: Isabella Lowery, Christine Chang, Mia Grace Roberts, Sophia Pugh, Emily Yang, Ethan Kim, William Singleton, Travis Pham, Brandon Hepworth
It was a special season to celebrate this class of 61 young men and women!

The Lee-Scott Academy Teacher Excellence Award is made available by the generosity of LSA parents who have established this award to recognize outstanding teachers who have worked with their children.
To be considered for the award, a faculty member must maintain a consistent record of outstanding teaching performance and implement effective and innovative teaching methods which demonstrate exceptional abilities to motivate student learning.
The 2023-24 LSA Teacher Excellence Award Recipients are:
Mrs. Karen Bryant
Mrs. Ryann Fligel
Mrs. Diana Gibbs
Mrs. Jamie Payne
Congratulations to these excellent teachers!

Congratulations to Lauralee Moore for her 3rd Place finish in the Alabama Governor’s Mansion Art contest for the 4th Grade students of Alabama. Lauralee was presented her award by Governor Kay Ivey and she and her family were honored with a tour of the Governor’s Mansion! Congratulations on a great job, Lauralee!

In celebration of School Lunch Hero Day, Auburn City Schools wanted to express gratitude to all the men and women who go above and beyond to feed students. From preparing meals to ensuring students feel welcome, school nutrition professionals make a difference in the lives of every child who comes through the cafeteria. Not only do they adhere to strict nutrition standards and navigate student food allergies, but they also offer service with a smile and a kind word. Did you know? The ACS Child Nutrition Program, with its 59 dedicated employees, serves a staggering 1.1 million meals every year across our school system!

The Lee-Scott Academy graduating Class of 2024…
Congratulations to our graduates and their families for such an accomplishment. They have provided so much to our school and our community.
Over $3.175 million in scholarships have been offered to these young adults to attend 11 different universities. One will enlist in the military while others will begin their careers or participate in missions. Thank you to Dr. Susan Hubbard for joining us for such a special night and her charge to our graduates. Our prayer is that the Class of 2024 will lean on what they have learned during their time as Warriors and pursue excellence in all they do! Congratulations!

Tierra Agee: 7A State Champion, Long Jump with a jump of 18ft 5 inches
Kyndall Brundidge: 7A Runner-Up, Triple Jump with a jump of 38 ft 1 inch
Davian Jones: 7A Runner-Up, Triple Jump with a jump of 47 feet 1 inch & 3rd Place, Long Jump with a jump of 22 feet 9.25 inches Way to represent Opelika! We are so proud of all of our track athletes! Go Dawgs!

Congratulations to Bryson McGlynn, the MasterChef Season 9 winner! Bryson is a 6th-grade student at Fox Run School. His culinary skills have amazed us all season long. He was greeted by students and faculty, cheering for him, as we all celebrated his accomplishment!