Scottsboro City Schools: A History of Education and Community Engagement
Introduction
Scottsboro City Schools, located in Jackson County, Alabama, represents a vital component of the community. This article explores the history, structure, and community engagement that define the Scottsboro City Schools system. It delves into the district's demographics, educational standards, and the individuals who contribute to its mission.
Overview of Scottsboro City Schools
Scottsboro City Schools is a school district serving the community of Scottsboro, Alabama, within Jackson County. The district operates five schools, providing educational services to students in the area. As of the 2023-2024 school year, Scottsboro City Schools employed 147.42 full-time classroom teachers, reflecting its commitment to providing instruction.
Academic Standards and Assessments
Each year, state and local education agencies assess student proficiency using tests and other standards. The Department of Education establishes proficiency measurements at the state level. Due to these state-level variations, proficiency levels are not directly comparable between different states. Furthermore, year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may also lack comparability due to potential changes in a state's proficiency measurements. To safeguard student privacy, percentages are reported as ranges for groups of 300 students or fewer.
Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center: A Link to History
The Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center plays a crucial role in preserving and interpreting local history. Thomas Reidy, PhD, serves as the Executive Director. Reidy received his PhD in History from the University of Alabama and was a Lecturer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. His involvement with the museum dates back to 2010, and he played a pivotal role in lobbying for and writing the Scottsboro Boys Act (AL 2013), a law allowing the state to posthumously pardon convicted felons.
Reidy also serves on the boards of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, Historic Huntsville Foundation, and the Racial Equity Committee for the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville. Katherine (Ren) Carroll serves as Assistant Director.
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Key Figures and Community Engagement
The Scottsboro City Schools and related organizations benefit from the dedication of numerous individuals who contribute their time and expertise.
Board Members and Their Contributions:
- Rev. Lasagne (Lacey) Smith: As Board Chair, Lacey Smith brings a wealth of experience in church and community affairs. Her background includes roles as a Church secretary, Sunday School teacher and Superintendent, teacher for Evangelistic ministry, and Minister of music. She has been pastoring in the AME church since 2013 and currently serves as pastor.
- Loretta Tolliver: Serving as Treasurer, Loretta Tolliver was born in Scottsboro and raised in rural Jackson County.
- Ginger Brook: Ginger Brook, a Board Member, is an eighth-generation Alabamian. She graduated with a BBA and BS from Athens State University and owns a graphic design business in Birmingham.
- Jaia Chen: Jaia Chen, a Board Member, is an artist, curator, and educator. She has lived and worked on three continents and taught art for twenty years at various educational institutions. Chen and her students have been involved in community projects such as mural painting and decorating hospital doors. She believes that art is a shared language that can heal and transform communities.
- Lydia Fielder: Lydia Fielder serves as the Executive Director of Tourism for Jackson County, Alabama. Her work involves promoting the county as a destination, strengthening community assets, and advancing tourism-driven economic development.
- William Hampton: William H. Hampton is a sixth-generation native of Huntsville-Madison County, Alabama. He serves the community working with organizations: executive board member of the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center in Scottsboro, Alabama, a class facilitator for LearningQuest, consultant for Huntsville City Schools EarthScope Environmental Development Department, Huntsville Preservation Association, the Huntsville-Madison County Historical Society Marker Committee, chairman of the Circle of Remembrance Committee, and the Early Works Children's Museum African-American Advisory Board.
- Lynda Hodges: Lynda Lynch Hodges, responsible for Facilities, graduated from Scottsboro High School and attended Jacksonville State University. She has been involved with organizations such as Big Brother/Big Sisters, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Meals on Wheels, and Christmas Charities.
- Juanita Sales Lee: Juanita Sales Lee is a retired supervisory attorney. She is a member of the Alabama and Georgia Bar Associations, the Alabama Lawyers Association, and the Federal Bar Association.
- The Reverend Polly Robb: Polly Robb is the rector at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church. She graduated from Auburn University with a BS in Biology. She taught Algebra at Randolph School in Huntsville for five years and then served for fourteen years as Head of the Randolph Middle School.
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