Student Spotlights – February 2024

Auburn City Schools is thrilled to announce the Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year, Deana Hooks and Greg Sanders! As a National Board-Certified Teacher, Mrs. Hooks is in her 33rd year with Auburn City Schools, serving teachers and students as the Librarian and Technology Coordinator at Pick Elementary School. Mr. Sanders started his teaching career in 1999 with Russell County Schools, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 2006 before teaching math at Auburn High School beginning in 2008. Join us in celebrating as Mrs. Hooks and Mr. Sanders will represent ACS at the next stage of the 2024-2025 ALSDE Teacher of the Year program, with aspirations of advancing to the Sweet 16!

Patrick Davidson (AHS Class of 2023) recently shared his advice for success with all students at J.F. Drake Middle School. A two-sport student-athlete at Auburn High School, Davidson is now in his freshman year and playing baseball for the Air Force Academy in El Paso County, Colorado. With more than 700 students in attendance, his overarching message was, “You are who you surround yourself with.” Davidson talked about how he still uses the skills he acquired as a sixth grader at DMS and how that year was a turning point in his life for identifying and embracing the people who wanted to see him succeed, which included his parents, peers, teachers, and coaches. Following the completion of basic training and his first semester, Davidson has now set his sights on being a fighter pilot upon graduation.
ACS thanks Patrick for giving his time to come back to where he developed his social foundations as a Panther at DMS, a Tiger at AHS, and ultimately serving our country in the years to follow his collegiate career.

Auburn City Schools scored an “A” as a school system on the 2023 Alabama State Department of Education report card. This letter grade was awarded based on Academic Proficiency, Academic Growth, Graduation Rate, College & Career Readiness, Attendance, and Progress in ELL Proficiency. ACS wants to thank community stakeholders for enriching our 14 schools with continued support as we inspire, educate, and empower students!

The Auburn High School Girls Cross-Country team was recognized by the Board of Education during the December meeting for their 2023 7A State Championship! With a margin of 60 points ahead of the competition, the Tigers secured their sixth state title in seven years (2017-2021 and 2023) at the 68th AHSAA Cross-Country Championships in Oakville Indian Mounds Park on November 12th. Auburn High took three of the top four individual spots in Class 7A, with Sarah Tole clocking 17:54.94 to win an individual state title.
ACS is proud of the student-athletes, Head Coach Olivia Bowen, families, and fans for cultivating a powerhouse program with a championship mindset!

Culinary Arts students in the second level of the Hospitality and Tourism program at Auburn High School completed “Skills for Success” modules for Food and Beverage services, showcasing their skills to earn Career-Ready Indicators. Some of the skills highlighted in this certification process included hosting guests and executing food and drink orders promptly while properly managing inventory. Chef John Everson is also now qualified to be a trainer for this credential and will be able to administer it to future students. Like the Skid Steer certification earned by several students last week, this opportunity was made possible through Southern Union State Community College’s Skill for Success rapid training program. The following students were a part of the inaugural group to be certified in Food and Beverage services:
– Thomas Britton
– Jovita Chagolla
– Ella Chenoweth
– Keira Fuchs
– Hayden Hitt
– Sydney Hubbard
– Eugene Kang
– Adrian Lawrence
– Lily Lee
– Aidan Platt
– Keaira Randell
– Sebastian Santillanes
– Jennifer Zuniga
ACS is proud of these students and the 15 Career Technical Education offerings that equip students with skills for their future!

Opelika City School students are thankful to the Opelika Police Department. We can’t thank OPD enough for sponsoring “Shop with a Cop” to help make Christmas extra special for them this year! “We are extremely grateful for everyone who assisted in making this day special for the kids,” says Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey. “The smiles on the faces of the children and officers while they were picking out gifts was priceless. We are very fortunate to serve such a wonderful community.”

We had some special Christmas visitors at Southview. Ms. Claus read to our Kindergarten kids and Mrs. Jarrell dressed as the Elf on the Shelf, greeting our students as they arrived to school. And you won’t find any of the Southview teachers on the naughty list this year! They got to enjoy a delicious lunch for all of their hard work!

Opelika City Schools welcomes Bryan Moore as the new Head Football Coach at OHS. “OCS welcomes Coach Bryan Moore as our new head football coach. He was an outstanding teacher and coach during his previous tenure in Opelika and he has only grown in his capacity as a strong effective leader,” stated Farrell Seymore, OCS Superintendent. “We look forward to the positive impact he will have on the students in our community.” Moore worked for Opelika City Schools from 2007-2015 as a teacher and coach. “We are incredibly excited to welcome Coach Moore and his family back to Opelika,” said Kelli Fischer, OHS Principal. “Coach Moore has proven himself as a quality head coach, but what is even more impressive is his ability to establish relationships with players, coaches, and the community where he works.”
Moore has been the head football coach at Hartselle High School since January 2020. Prior to that, he was the head football coach at Jasper High School (2018-2020) and at Eufaula High School (2015-2018). His coaching career began at Opelika High School in 2007 as the 9th grade football assistant coach and the 9th grade head basketball coach. After being the 9th grade head football coach in 2008, he was the tight ends/inside wide receivers coach from 2009-2011. He then served as varsity offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2011 until March 2015. “I am so honored to be the new head football coach at Opelika High School. It’s surreal to have the opportunity to come back and lead a program that I began coaching in many years ago,” said Coach Moore. “Opelika has always been a special place to me and my family. It’s where I got my start in teaching and coaching and where my kids were born. My desire for this program is for it to be the best football program in Alabama.” Coach Moore graduated from Auburn University in May 2007 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Science Education. He received a Master’s Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University in 2018. He and his wife Lindsey are the proud parents of three boys: Parker (age 13), Baker (age 10), and Tucker (age 7). Coach Moore will begin as the Opelika High School Head Football Coach on January 3, 2024. OCS is excited to have Coach Moore back home in Opelika. GO DAWGS!

OCS nurses and substitute nurses participated in Disaster Preparedness and Stop the Bleed training at the Auburn University School of Nursing. We appreciate our nurses and all that they do each day to serve our students!

Students from West Forest Intermediate School took a field trip to the Opelika Public Library. The students were so excited to learn more about the library and how to check out books. They also made buttons, played bingo, and signed up for library cards. It was a great day at the Opelika Library!

All Aboard the Polar Express at Northside Intermediate School. Students and teachers arrived for a day on the Polar Expressed. Dressed in their snuggly holiday pjs, the spirit of Christmas and all it’s cheer was felt throughout the school day.

Congratulations to Morris Avenue Intermediate School’s Spelling Bee winner! Her winning word was ‘magistrates’! She will go on to represent our school at the Lee County Spelling Bee. Great job from all the class representatives! Their hard work made for a challenging competition!

Lee-Scott Academy Beginner Band, Concert Band and Jazz Bands put on their annual Christmas Concert. Beautiful Christmas carols, hymns and new renditions were played and performed beautifully. From 6th grade to seniors, Mr. Hudson has incredibly talented students and it is an extra special Christmas gift to all of us to hear them play!

Fox Run students had a wonderful and busy month of December! Students and staff enjoyed themed dress up days for each day of the month. Teachers were treated to coffee and cookies by our parent advisory committee, and we held our very first band and choir concerts!
We have enjoyed this month to the fullest with our staff and students. We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thank you to Executive Director of Camp Marannook, Mr. Taylor Teel, for joining us in the morning and reminding us of how the Christmas story has been God’s plan from the beginning. While we remember the night of Jesus’ birth most, we can rest in His provision over our lives constantly. Thank you to the LSA Jazz Band for beautiful music, the LSA Dance Team for a fun Christmas routine, Mrs. Reeves & Mrs. Petrone for leading us in some classic Christmas carols and SGA President Miles Zachry & School Resource Officer Jon Young for speaking about the magnitude of the Toy Drive in our local community.

Twenty pieces of art by Auburn City Schools students are being sent to compete in the 2024 State Superintendent’s Visual Art Exhibit (SSVAE) in Montgomery! In the first quarter of each year, ACS participates in the SSVAE with the mission of showcasing and celebrating our students’ amazing artistic abilities. This is a statewide competition that has approximately 800 submissions annually from more than 40 school systems in Alabama. The annual SSVAE will be held in February and March. The SSVA Secondary Division Exhibit will be February 2-23, 2024, and the SSVA Elementary Division Exhibit will be March 1-22, 2024. The exhibits of student artwork will be on public display in the Old Supreme Court Library of the Alabama State Capitol. An awards ceremony and reception will occur for all Best of Show, First Place, Second Place, Third Place, and Honorable Mention winners and their visual arts instructors. Winning students and their visual arts instructors will be honored on March 13, 2024, at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, Alabama. This competition is sponsored by the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) and Alabama Arts License Tag Grant.
Pictured: Artist: Alli Cobb
School: Auburn Junior High School
Grade Level: 9
Artwork Title: Four Seasons
Medium: Acrylic Paint
Art Teacher: Amanda Smith

Lee-Scott Academy 4th Grade students visited the East Alabama Food Bank today to pack 570 Christmas treat bags for their backpack food program. Students surrounded the packed sacks and prayed over all of the bags & for those who would receive them. What a blessing it is for our students to serve others and truly get to show LOVE to our neighbors as we’re commanded in Luke 10:27. What better way to celebrate the Christmas season!

Kindergarteners shopped until they dropped at the Kindergarten Christmas Market! Using pennies, they earned throughout the semester; kindergarten students went to each classroom to purchase gifts made by their classmates. Some will be for themselves, some will be for family members… these Kindergarteners worked hard to have cash registers, tables and products. They put on an excellent Christmas market!

Grinches and Who Hair were everywhere…Lee-Scott Academy second graders learned the importance of keeping their hearts soft for God when celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ this Christmas season. Reading, writing, drawing, and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas made for a fun day in second grade!

Two Lee-Scott Academy students finished first overall at Lake Jordan in the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series! Congratulations to Hilton Jones & Aidan Chapman for their first-place finish!

Lee-Scott Academy’s annual Christmas Programs on Grandparents’ Day were nothing short of absolutely wonderful. Thank you to all our actors, soloists, and teachers for helping us tell the story of The King and his glorious arrival! We hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Lee-Scott Academy celebrated all our DECEMBER birthdays registered for the Birthday Book Club! Birthday Book Club members attend a special celebration in the Media Center during their birthday month. Students will enjoy a birthday treat, select their book and receive a birthday goodie bag. It is always a fun celebration with Mrs. Moore!

Each month, Lee-Scott Academy Director of Technology, Mr. Kyle Christian, gives out a Junior Technician Award. The award is bestowed to a faculty member, nominated by their peers, who are actively innovating new technologies in their classroom that assist with classroom engagement and learning, solving difficult technical problems that affect many users or teaching other faculty and students how to better use technology. December’s Junior Technician Awards is given to Lower School technology teacher, Mrs. Ashley Jones & Spanish teacher, Mrs. Debbie Drake! While they’ve been nominated earlier this year, their work in making sure today’s Grandparents Day Christmas Programs sounded beautifully! Without them, the show would NOT go on. They worked tirelessly to ensure that all of the audio and music was perfect for this special day. Well done and congratulations, Mrs. Jones & Mrs. Drake! We appreciate you!

Congratulations to the Warriors’ varsity basketball teams on incredible finishes at the Abbeville Generals’ 2023 Holiday Hoops Classic! The varsity girls fought hard in the championship and finished as tournament runner-up. Madison Davis & Railey Langford were named to the All-Tournament Team. The varsity boys defeated the home Abbeville Generals and took home the championship! Haiden Harper was named Tournament MVP and joined Parker Wright & Ben Aldridge on the All-Tournament Team. Congratulations, Warriors!

Congratulations to Marta Harrison! 2023-24 Opelika Middle School Teacher of the Year The Oaks School Congratulates Basketball Players. Congratulations to Noah Shabo for being the current leading scorer on our JV basketball team and Joey Allen for leading our varsity boys’ team. The JV team is currently 8-4; and varsity is 8-2. So proud of these boys and look forward to the rest of the season.

Congratulations to Mandy Baker! 2023-24 Opelika High School Teacher of the Year and 2023-24 OCS Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations to Branham Smith! 2023-24 Northside Intermediate School Teacher of the Year and 2023-24 OCS Elementary Teacher of the Year

Our 11-12th grade machine shop students gained unique insight into industrial machining by attending a field trip to GE Aviation and Regal Rexnord. The students left with a better understanding of potential career paths in this field.

Our very own 4/5th grade teacher, Mrs. Jessica Keyes, is the author and illustrator of the Liberty Lane Farm Friends book series. This morning she treated our students to a reading of Dessa May Donkey Wants to Be a Reindeer.