November 2026 – Student Spotlights

Physical Education turned into family fun at Dean Road Elementary School today as parents joined their students for Parents Day at PE. Families jumped right into the action with a friendly game of “Topple the Tower,” bringing plenty of competition, smiles, and laughter to the playground. Opportunities like this give parents a firsthand look at what their students experience during the school day while creating special memories together. Thank you to all of the DRES families who came out to play and be part of the fun!

Congratulations to the young ladies selected to represent Auburn High School as members of the 2026 Homecoming Court! Chosen by their peers to represent their respective classes, these students are part of a special Auburn High tradition as we celebrate Homecoming and the Tiger spirit that brings our school community together. 10th Grade: Lily Helms, Madison Hunter, Molly Northcutt, and Blakely Register. 11th Grade: Lula Hammer, Suan Pak, Kaylee Reese, and Maggie Skipper. 12th Grade: Mackenzie Darden, Marley Hunt, Abby Lawrence, Kaleah Palmer, and Sadie Traylor. Congratulations to each member of the 2026 Homecoming Court on this recognition from your classmates!

October is Farm to School Month, and Auburn City Schools is proud to celebrate the Alabama farmers helping bring fresh, locally grown foods to our students! Throughout the year, ACS Child Nutrition incorporates locally sourced products into school meals, giving students the opportunity to enjoy foods grown and produced closer to home while supporting Alabama agriculture. ACS has proudly partnered with Extreme Greens, C&J Farms, Wiggins Farms, Epic Farms, JSJ Farms, Scott’s Orchard, and S&S Farms to bring local products from the farm to our cafeterias. We are grateful for these partnerships and the hardworking farmers behind them. By bringing local foods into our schools, we support Alabama agriculture, strengthen our communities, and help students connect where their food is grown with what is served on their trays. From Alabama farms to Auburn school cafeterias, ACS is proud to support local!

Creekside Elementary School students enjoyed a little extra love at lunchtime as they welcomed their “Pick of the Patch” special guests for a memorable meal together! From parents and grandparents to other family members and loved ones, students could invite some of their favorite people to share a sweet celebration of family, fellowship, and school community. Creekside and its sister school, Richland Elementary, thoughtfully coordinated this special event to provide meaningful family engagement opportunities while keeping their many shared families in mind as Thanksgiving luncheons approach. A special thank-you to Creekside’s Child Nutrition Program team for their hard work in preparing and serving this wonderful meal and helping make the occasion so special for students and their guests!

Congratulations to Abby Lawrence who was crowned Auburn High School’s 2026 Homecoming Queen!

Fourth graders at Yarbrough Elementary School got a firsthand look at the many possibilities awaiting them as they explored a variety of professions during today’s Career Day. Community volunteers with backgrounds in healthcare, engineering, education, business, athletics, public service, and more gave students a firsthand look at the many career opportunities available to them. Students took an active role in the experience, arriving prepared with thoughtful questions about each career. Through engaging conversations with guest speakers, they explored daily responsibilities and professional skills while recording at least three interesting facts about each profession presented. This interactive learning opportunity encouraged curiosity and helped students make meaningful connections between their education today and tomorrow’s possibilities. A special thank you to the many parents, professionals, and community members who generously shared their time and expertise with our students.

It was a beautiful day for hands-on learning as students at Auburn Early Education Center welcomed our friends from the Auburn University College of Nursing back to campus. As part of a continued partnership with the Auburn University College of Nursing, AU nursing students transformed AEEC’s front lawn into an interactive sensory experience. Students explored a variety of activities through touch, movement, play, and other sensory-based experiences, from kinetic sand and games to colorful parachute activities and more. The Sensory Activation Vehicle (SAV) was also on-site, providing another resource for students to explore in an environment designed to support a variety of sensory needs. Beyond providing a fun day for our youngest learners, special visits like this create meaningful opportunities for nursing students to engage directly with children while giving ACS students individualized, hands-on experiences in a supportive setting. We are grateful to Dr. Morgan Yordy, the Auburn University College of Nursing, and its nursing students for continuing to invest their time and talents in Auburn City Schools. Judging by these smiles, sensory learning was a big hit at AEEC!

October is National Principals Month, and Auburn City Schools is proud to celebrate the 14 dedicated leaders at the helm of our schools. Our principals set the tone for their campuses each day by supporting students, empowering teachers and staff, building relationships with families, and creating school communities where students can learn and succeed. Their leadership extends far beyond the walls of an office. From classrooms and cafeterias to car lines, athletic events, performances, and everything in between, our principals are present, engaged, and committed to the students and families they serve. Throughout October, we celebrate our ACS principals and thank them for the countless ways they lead with purpose and help make our school communities special places to learn and work. Join us in saying THANK YOU to our principals for all they do!

Dean Road Elementary School was seeing spots today as students, teachers, and staff celebrated International Dot Day with colorful outfits, creative activities, and plenty of dots! Inspired by The Dot, a children’s book by Peter H. Reynolds, International Dot Day celebrates creativity and self-expression while encouraging everyone to believe in themselves and make their mark on the world. From arts and crafts to interactive games, DRES students discovered that even the smallest mark can lead to something extraordinary. The celebration was a fun reminder that everyone has unique talents and the potential to make a positive difference. A special shoutout to DRES Art Teacher Andrea Newman for her continued enthusiasm and dedication to bringing Dot Day to life each year, inspiring students to embrace their creativity and leave their own unique mark on the world!

The Auburn High School Marching Band brought the energy to Auburn City Schools this morning ahead of tonight’s big rivalry matchup. After starting the day by performing in car line at Dean Road Elementary School, members of the AHSMB stopped by the ACS Central Office to share some Tiger spirit and get everyone excited for Auburn High vs. Opelika High tonight at 7pm in Duck Samford Stadium. A special thank you to AHSMB Director Deanna Marshall and her students for always being willing to share their talents beyond the field and perform throughout our schools and community. Their next stop later this month will be another special one, as the band plans to perform for ACS bus drivers one morning during National School Bus Safety Week. We appreciate the AHSMB for bringing the good vibes wherever they go. Good luck tonight, Tigers!

The Auburn High School Marching Band continues to shine with its 2026 production, From Dawn ’til Dusk. The Tigers delivered another outstanding performance this weekend at the Midsouth Marching Band Competition in Gadsden, earning Superior ratings and receiving the Bob Rush Memorial Award. AHSMB also brought home:
Best in Class Band
Best in Class Majorettes
Congratulations to our talented student musicians, performers, directors, and staff on another impressive showing this season! Your hard work continues to make ACS proud.

Congratulations to the Auburn High School Varsity Cheer Team on an outstanding performance at the Central-South Super Regional in Millbrook. The Tigers took 1st Place in the Small Varsity 6A Game Day competition, earning their spot at the AHSAA State Cheer Competition. Congrats again to these talented student-athletes and their coaches on a great competition and well-earned advancement to State. Auburn City Schools is proud of you, and we’ll be cheering you on all the way!

Auburn City Schools received some special deliveries today as Alabama State Representative Joe Lovvorn surprised Principals with a total of $127,000 in Legislative Grants to support needs across all 14 schools. Each school will have the flexibility to put its grant to work where it can make a meaningful difference for students and the school community. From enhancing playground equipment to helping cover field trip fees and other identified needs, the funding will be used in a variety of ways based on each campus’ priorities. In addition to presenting checks to the schools, Rep. Lovvorn also had grants for the Auburn High Debate and Robotics teams, as well as the ACS Child Nutrition Program. We appreciate Representative Lovvorn for visiting our schools, spending time with our principals, and providing resources that will directly support students and enhance school culture throughout Auburn City Schools. Thank you, Joe Lovvorn, Alabama House District 79 Representative, for investing in ACS and the students we serve!

Congratulations to Dr. Jonathan Finch, Assistant Principal at J.F. Drake Middle School, on being named the District IV Assistant Principal of the Year by the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS). Dr. Finch has been a dedicated educator for the past 24 years in Auburn City Schools and a school leader for the past 10 years, making a lasting impact through his commitment to students, faculty, and the DMS community. His leadership emphasizes strong relationships, student mentorship, and creating a school environment where students feel supported and encouraged during the important transition into secondary education. This recognition reflects Dr. Finch’s dedication to educational leadership and the positive influence he continues to have at J.F. Drake Middle School and throughout Auburn City Schools.
Congratulations, Jonathan, on this well-deserved honor! We are proud to have you representing DMS and ACS at the district level!

Fourth graders from Wrights Mill Road Elementary School took learning beyond the classroom with a local field trip exploring history, community, and public service right here in Auburn. Students visited historic Pebble Hill, where they connected their Alabama history curriculum to the people, places, and stories that helped shape Auburn and our state. Built in the 1840s and now home to Auburn University’s Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities, Pebble Hill gives students a chance to explore local history and better understand the experiences of those who came before them. The learning continued at Auburn Fire Department Station 1, where students got an up-close look at a firefighter’s daily life and learned more about the important role first responders play in keeping our community safe. From stepping into Auburn’s past to learning from those who serve our community today, this hands-on social studies experience showed these fourth graders just how much there is to discover right here at home. A special thank you to the teams at Pebble Hill and Auburn Fire Department Station 1 for welcoming our WMR students and helping bring their classroom lessons to life!

Congratulations to the Auburn High School students selected for the 2026–2027 Lee County Young Leaders class. A signature program of the Opelika Chamber, Lee County Young Leaders brings together high school students from across Lee County for experiences designed to strengthen leadership skills, build character, and encourage meaningful community involvement. Throughout the program, students will connect with leaders representing business, media, government, education, and service organizations while gaining a broader understanding of the many factors that shape our community. Participants will also earn one hour of Leadership credit through Southern Union State Community College. We are proud of our Auburn High School students selected for this year’s class and excited to see them represent ACS while learning, connecting, and growing as the next generation of leaders in Lee County!

Our 5th graders worked to create these mini Statue of Liberty stand-ups. Mrs. Mendiola spent time talking about the importance of this day, our freedom, and our responsibility as good citizens.

Problem solving- Deep thinking- Logic- That is what you’ll find in our classrooms. Students are making hypothesis, testing them out, and gathering data.

What a week it has been! Celebrating the Feast of the Archangels was so much fun. Thank you to the St. Charlottes Crochet Crew at Saint Dominic’s Parish in Mobile for making these beautiful crocheted squares for our students. It was beautiful for them to connect with our Comfort Weavers at St. Michael’s while visiting. Thank you for being part of our village.

6th graders enjoyed a very special guest speaker: Mr. George Martin. Mr. Martin is a highly regarded archaeologist and has a lot of experience digging for and identifying fossils. Our sixth graders had a hands-on, up-close experience today with them. Mr. Martin talked to the students about the process he goes through to locate, identify and clean them properly. Mr. Martin has two state fossils named after him. What a great day of learning.

On August 22, 2026, Revel Gholston, Opelika High School Theatre Director, was presented with the 2026 Hall of Fame Award by the Alabama Conference of Theatre during a ceremony in Montgomery, AL. This prestigious awards honors “pioneers in Alabama theatre and is reserved for those individuals who have created something original or groundbreaking in Alabama theatre—innovative work that’s had lasting and wide-reaching impact, possibly even beyond state lines. This person sets the standard and inspires others through their legacy.” Opelika City Schools, Opelika High School, current and former members of the Opelika High Theatre Society, OHTS parents and students would like to congratulate Mr. Gholston on this very deserved recognition. “Revel Gholston has an extraordinary gift for seeing potential in students, often before they see it in themselves, and then helping them discover talents they never knew they had. His ability to bring out the very best in people, both on the stage and beyond it, is truly special. I can think of no one more deserving of induction into the Alabama Conference of Theatre Hall of Fame,” said OHS Principal, Kelli Fischer. Mr. Gholston began his career at Opelika High School in January 2001 and has produced and directed more than 78 productions so far in his career. He was selected as the Opelika High School Teacher of the Year in 2012 and the 2014 Teacher of the Year by the Alabama Conference of Theatre (ACT). He was honored with the ACT Dorothy Schwartz Outstanding Educator Award in 2023 and has served in multiple leadership roles with the Alabama Conference of Theatre. His productions have won accolades across the State of Alabama and throughout the Southeast. Children of Eden-Act II (2016) and The Quilt-A Musical Celebration (2023) won “Best in Show” at the State Trumbauer Festival and earned Opelika High Theatre Society invitations to the Southeastern Theatre Conference. The Drowsy Chaperone (2015) and Noises Off-Act II (2024) were Top 5 “Best in Show” and Emily won “Best Set Design” in 2022. The Opelika High Theatre Society was also chosen as the first high school in Alabama to perform Disney’s Frozen. According to his friend and colleague Jeff Glass, Theatre Director at Wetumpka High School, Revel Gholston is “the colleague who answers your late-night questions and pushes you to be better and leads with total integrity and humility–A champion, a mentor, and our biggest cheerleader. There are very few people who have done more for our students, our teachers and our state and there is no one more deserving of this honor than Revel Gholston.” Congratulations Mr. Gholston! We are proud of you!

Trinity Christian School kicked things off with the first Eagle Athletes Breakfast of the year, where Coach Gardner encouraged our athletes to contend for the faith and live as hard-fighting soldiers for the Lord. “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” — Ephesians 6:11 ESV. Then our Super Dads showed up to open car doors during carline! And we wrapped up the morning with our first Donuts with Dads Prayer Group of the year. We were so encouraged by the wonderful turnout—and especially by all the new dads who joined us! All dads are welcome, and we hope to see even more of you at our next gathering.

The Auburn Fire Department spoke to our Pk-2nd graders about fire safety. Students practiced how to Stop, Drop and Roll. They also had the opportunity to see the equipment on a fire truck and how it is used to save lives. Thank you Auburn Fire and Safety units for keeping us safe!

Congratulations to the Auburn Novice Debate Team on an outstanding showing at the Vestavia Hills Tournament. Auburn swept the top three spots in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, led by two undefeated performances.
Dakota Tournear — 1st Place (5-0)
Reagan Scarborough — 2nd Place (5-0)
Aiden McCarthy — 3rd Place (4-1)
Sarah Hong — 5th Place (3-2)
Swetha Natarajan — 9th Place (3-2)
What a performance by these students! Congratulations to the Auburn Novice Debate Team on representing Auburn City Schools with skill and plenty of persuasive power!

What an exciting Crusader day we had. Our preschool students had a visit from Bowser the tortoise. Our little crusaders were able to ask questions and see Bowser up close. Then later, we had two AU Football players come visit and share how God has blessed them and how they make sure to show Thanksgiving. They read a story and talked to our bigger Crusaders about hard work, effort and the importance of managing your time. What a great day it was!

Pick Elementary students and their families recently put their problem-solving skills to work during a fun-filled STEM Night. Throughout the evening, students explored a variety of interactive STEM stations hosted by members of the Auburn High School Engineering Club. From creating and experimenting to solving challenges, the activities allowed students to experience science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in action. A special thank you to the AHS Engineering Club for sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with our younger students and helping inspire the next generation of innovators!

Cary Woods Elementary students had a special guest from Atlanta today as Ayla from the Center for Puppetry Arts brought the art and history of puppetry to life. Throughout the presentation, students learned how puppetry has developed across cultures and generations while getting an up-close look at five different forms of the art: shadow puppets, rod puppets, hand puppets, string or marionette puppets, and full-body puppets often seen in parades. From learning how different puppets move to discovering the creativity and skill that goes into bringing a character to life, CWES students enjoyed an interactive introduction to an art form that combines storytelling, performance, design, and imagination. A special thank you to CWES Art Teacher Trina Crowdus for organizing this unique arts experience and to Ayla and the Center for Puppetry Arts for bringing a piece of Atlanta’s puppetry magic to Auburn!

Wrights Mill Road Elementary brought the field trip experience in-house today for its first-quarter AU SOUND Field Trip, giving students a morning full of hands-on learning focused on functional independence and daily living. After a fun start with everyone’s favorite tiger, Aubie, students rotated through five interactive stations focused on hygiene, health, nutrition, safety, and snack preparation, with Auburn University College of Nursing students and local EMS professionals enhancing the experience. From making healthy choices and practicing personal care to learning essential safety skills, each station gave students a chance to practice everyday tasks that build confidence and independence. A special shoutout to Dr. Morgan Yordy, her nursing students, and Sully the therapy dog for continuing to provide meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities for students in Auburn City Schools! Their time, energy, and collaboration bring practical life skills to life in a fun, engaging way. Thank you to everyone who helped make today’s AU SOUND experience such a success!