Mountain Brook BOE recognizes students, approves summer improvement plans
The Mountain Brook Board of Education took time to recognize some of the city’s best students at its monthly meeting April 11. Among those recognized were artists, coding enthusiasts and music lovers. The board also recognized one of its faculty members, recently named to the Top 16 in the Alabama Teacher of the Year award category.
Crestline Elementary Principal Laurie King began the recognition part of the meeting by recognizing fifth-grader Mia Dunlap, the winner of the Alabama Arbor Day Poster Contest. Dunlap won $50 and gave a speech at the award ceremony held earlier this year.
King then went on to recognize Sandy Ritchey, a reading coach at MBE and a Top 16 finalist in the Teacher of the Year contest. According to her Mountain Brook Schools profile, Ritchey has been at the school since 2013. Prior to joining CES, she worked as a Literacy Coach in Hoover and has over 10 years of experience.
“I have the pleasure of walking with champions everyday at Mountain Brook Schools,” Ritchey said while addressing the crowd. “I’m so proud to be part of this team.”
Mountain Brook Junior High Principal Donald Clayton continued the afternoon’s recognitions, awarding James Salvant with the Alabama Vex Robotics Mentor of the Year award—an honor Clayton said was created specifically for Salvant because of his work in the robotics mentoring field. Under his direction, MBJH’s robotics club grew from two to 16 competitors in one year.
Clayton then went on to introduce band director Dr. Mark Foster, who has been with the school for 16 years. Foster recognized several band students in the audience, all who received superior ratings at a recent competition.
Mountain Brook High School Principal Amanda Hood wrapped up the day’s recognitions, congratulating Katie Klasing for receiving the Princeton Prize for Race Relations for her work in reinstituting the Heritage Panel student organization at the high school. The Heritage Panel, explained Hood, celebrates diversity among different people. Klasing was one of only 25 students in the nation to receive the award and the only one from Alabama.
“I have learned so much from this experience,” said Klasing.
Hood then went on to introduce computer science and statistics teacher Fred Major, who congratulated students Grace Carmichael, Angela Fu and Ryan Kirk for their recent accomplishments and awards in the coding field.
At the conclusion of the recognitions, the board then went on to approve more than $900,000 in work to be done at the various city schools over the summer break. The work includes replacing several air conditioning units, carpets, cabinets and painting.
Before the break, however, students will remain busy with the following activities:
- Retirement tea for MBS 2016 retirees - May 19 at 3:30 p.m. in the MBJH cafeteria
- MBHS musical “Legally Blonde” - April 21, 23, 25, at 7 p.m. and April 24 at 2 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center
- MBHS Art - Open House Art Display - April 26, 4-6 p.m. in the Fine Arts Lobby Gallery
- Beginning Band and MBHS Symphonic Spring Concert - April 26 at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center
- MBHS Graduation - May 26 at the Pete Hanna Center at 6 p.m.
The last day of school for students will be May 27.
The next Mountain Brook Board meeting will be held May 16 at 3:30 p.m. in the PLC.