That's a Wrap to an Amazing Year!

This year really is almost a "wrap!"  Very little about this year has been ordinary.  In fact, for the most part, this year has been extraordinary in so many ways.  Because of the opening of the new elementary schools, we pushed the start of school back to a late start, but once we began, we hit the ground running.  We haven't looked back either!  

The people who work for the students and families in Trussville City Schools are the reason things were extraordinary this year.  There aren't words to adequately express our gratitude and appreciation for you ALL.  Our administrators have graciously and effectively dealt with lots of new challenges this year.  Teachers managed to get school started even though the elementary teachers were scrambling at the very last minute to set up their classrooms.  Magnolia teachers had to pack a second time, vacating Paine and moving into their new building in October.  Our support staff has done just that - supported in every possible way.  We opened new lunch rooms, opened up new bus routes, figured out new walking routes, changed the way lunch was done at HTHS, reconfigured computers, telephones, and infrastructures, set up new financial books for new schools, divided tons of books, furniture, supplies, and Chromebooks, and on and on and on.  But as usual, our people got it all done.  In the process, students kept on learning and growing.

Cahaba Elementary 

August 2016

First Day of School for Cahaba Elementary

Magnolia Spring 2016

Ribbon Cutting at Magnolia

October 2016

Opening Day at Magnolia

Paine - Summer 2016

Paine - October 2016

I started reflecting on all the things that were set in motion this year, and I was honestly amazed.  Here, in no particular order, are some really big things we did this year:

• Opened three new elementary schools.
• Removed  all 13 portable classrooms from the Paine Campus
• Built K-5 cultures (as opposed to separate K-2 and 3-5)
• Started Husky Hour at HTHS 
• Began implementing a new framework for teaching reading in grades K-5
• Implemented a new science program - StemSCOPES in grades K-5
• Developed our own science curriculum in grades 6-12
• Replaced science textbooks with hundreds of Chromebooks and the expertise of our science teachers
• Implemented a new teacher evaluation tool and a brand new way to strengthen teachers - TCS Educator Effectiveness
• Created a new evaluation tool for counselors and librarians
• Designed and successfully implemented new strategies for curbing student absenteeism 
• Assembled a district literacy team to focus on improving literacy throughout the district and to develop an internal canon 
• Flawlessly administered literally thousands of state mandated assessments 
• Hired approximately 42 new teachers, adding many new positions including librarians and music, art, and technology teachers
• Won countless student and teacher awards and recognitions

We did much more than just these things.  Teachers, administrators, counselors, and support staff kept things from unraveling when we had challenges, heartache, and tragedies.  And we had our share this year.  For sure, 16-17 will remain in our hearts and minds forever.  We will remember most all of it, but our students will remember the learning, the support, and the love they were shown.  

Thank you for the really big things you did and the thousands of little things you did.  You changed lives.  You know you did.  You gave second, third, fourth chances.  You opened doors.  You provided opportunites for brighter and better futures.  How on earth do you adequately thank someone for that?  You can't. But that's how school people are.  We don't do what we do for thanks.  We know why we do it.

Have a restful, fun summer!  We will do it again in 17-18.