AASCD News May 2022

As the 2021-2022 school year nears an end, our thoughts turn to summer and all the activities and tasks we hope to accomplish. This is also the time of year when I’ll hear this question at least once, “What are you going to do this summer? It probably slows down a lot for you during the summer.” As an educator, I’m sure you have heard something very similar. We have to remember, however, that community members may not realize how active our summers actually are. It’s important that we share our school and district stories because student learning does not stop in May. Multiple new learning opportunities will be available to students in my district beginning in June, and our campuses will be abuzz with the sounds of students who are immersed in exploration and discovery.

The Limestone County Schools Summer STEM Robotics Camp is one example. Created in hopes of stirring more interest in robotics and STEM- related courses and careers, this camp will target rising 6th - 8th graders from each of our six middle schools. Students will utilize their creativity and problem-solving skills to resolve everyday problems through designing, building, and coding. The sounds of students actively participating in team- building activities, physical activities, and daily challenges will fill the air as they collaborate to complete their final projects. At the same time, students will be building their skills in reading, mathematics, engineering, and computer science (but they probably won’t even realize that).

Our summer SOAR reading camps (Summer of Achievement in Reading) will continue this year at each of our nine elementary schools. Early preparations included a district planning team that met with each school to discuss local needs, and a reading campaign called Let’s Read Limestone County that was held at each of our elementary schools to stir excitement among the students. During the three weeks of Summer SOAR this June, students will engage in activities to improve their skills, but I won’t be surprised when I hear them having fun because they will.

Lastly, our high school students who are willing to challenge themselves and strengthen their skills for future success will have an opportunity to complete dual enrollment courses on the campus of the Limestone County

Career Technical Center. English 101/102 and History 202 will be offered through Calhoun Community College and will meet each Tuesday and Thursday beginning on June 2nd and running through August 5th.

Qualifying students will also have an opportunity to receive scholarship money to apply towards their tuition.

Summer 2022 will certainly be busy in LCS just as it will be in your district. Like our students, we also need to keep learning, and the CLAS Summer Convention will be a perfect time for this. You’ll be able to visit and network with your professional family, meet new people, and attend high quality professional learning sessions (and please remember to attend the AASCD meeting during the week.) I hope to see you in Birmingham this June where together we’ll re-energize for the new year.

We believe that exploring is one of the first steps toward understanding. Inspire Academy offers students the opportunity to explore their career interests and begin investing in their futures through dual enrollment and work-based learning. In addition to the programs offered, students are also encouraged to participate in our Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) wherein students compete in local, state, and national competitions. Students are also exposed to various careers and workplaces during their time with us. Students are taken on several industry visits to see the various jobs and careers offered through our local manufacturers and businesses.

Some exciting activities students participate in include the Green Power Racing, animal husbandry, and beekeeping. The Green Power Race Team competes throughout the year racing other teams at the local, regional, and national levels. Our team focuses on more than just winning races, they focus on building leadership skills and fostering positive relationships with their teammates. Additionally the team serves as an outlet for many students who take an interest in learning how the world around them works.

Inspire Academy is also home to a fully functioning farm named Legacy Acres. On the farm, our students do it all. Students learn how to properly tend to and care for our livestock while receiving hands-on instruction on the key aspects of maintaining animals in a production farming environment. Students also learn how to properly care for and maintain vegetables and potted plants, culminating in a large plant sale in the spring where they take it a step further and learn the business side of Agriculture and Horticulture. The farm also houses the school’s apiary wherein students learn the art of beekeeping and honey production. Students frequently suit up in their bee suits to safely monitor and maintain the hives.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to take my daughter Kameron and three of her friends to Six Flags over Georgia. As we drove up I-20, we passed by the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama and noticed that preparation had been made for the races. For the first time, NASCAR began to welcome its fans back for the full race experience!

Last year, the RV infield experience was not allowed due to the pandemic and there were extremely limited numbers of spectators allowed in the stands. No crowd noise could be heard round the superspeedway which was a strange reality to the drivers who participated in the race.

What a difference a year makes! There was a return of infield visitors, spectators in the stands, and entertainment. You could see the portal potties surrounding the track in anticipation for the RV’s and fans. It looked like it was going to be a great weekend had by all!

During the past year, CLAS began to return to some sense of normalcy as we stopped having as many virtual or blended conferences. The New Principals Institute, Secretaries Conference, Law Conference and AP Conferences returned to full in-person events. Some of the affiliates continued to offer virtual or blended events because of the many variants that we experienced. Even though, we were hopeful that this academic year was going to be easier than the previous one, that was not the case.

Like the NASCAR races, we are excited to come back together for the 51st annual Summer Convention and we are so excited to see all of you in-person! We have spent the year preparing to make this event a spectacular one and cannot wait to see you in Birmingham, AL. Our theme: Leadership: Connect, Inspire, Thrive is a testament to what we all have been through the past few years. As we move forward, we realize that the past few years tested basic ideas about curriculum and instruction, role of technology and those human connections that hold it all together. Our hope is that you will continue to connect with old friends, inspire each other and thrive in the new academic year.

If you have not registered for the 51st annual Summer Convention, what are you waiting for? Visit https://convention.clasleaders.org/ for updated information and to register today! If you have registered, we will see you soon! We look forward to connecting with all of you! Educators, start your engines!