2008 Alabama PTA Awards
Alabama PTA presented the 2008 awards at the 90th Annual Alabama PTA Convention on April 26, 2008.
Award Categories
Follow the link to scroll to recipients:
- Outstanding Educator Awards
- Excellence in Education Partnership Award
- Outstanding Council Report
- Building Successful Partnership Awards
Award Recipients
Outstanding Educator Awards
Outstanding Teacher—Elementary
Stephanie Hudson
Elsie Collier Elementary School
Mobile County Schools
Outstanding Teacher—Junior/Middle School
Ellen Anson
Academy for Academics and Arts
Huntsville City Schools
Outstanding Teacher—Secondary
Dr. Corine Free
Booker T. Washington Magnet High School
Montgomery County Schools
Outstanding Principal—Elementary
Dawn Williamson-Ashley
Ridgecrest Elementary School
Huntsville City Schools
Outstanding Principal—Junior/Middle School
Edward McDonald
McIntrye Middle School
Montgomery County Schools
Outstanding Principal—Secondary
Doug Estle
Murphy High School
Mobile County Schools
Excellence in Education Partnership Award
Phoebe Apperson Hearst
Excellence in Education Partnership Award
Greystone Elementary School PTA - Birmingham, Alabama
Outstanding Council Report
Outstanding Council Report
Montgomery Council
Building Successful Partnership Awards
Communicating
Building Successful Partnerships
Communicating
Elementary Division
Rainbow Elementary PTA
Madison, Alabama
This year's award goes to a PTA that is continually seeking new ways to initiate better communication to ensure that their students are prepared and headed for success. This unit provides all third through six grade students with a planner entitled... "
Footsteps to the Future." In addition to providing information on leadership, character, and study skills, this planner is used as a communication tool between parents and teachers with parents signing the planner nightly and returning to school the next day. This unit also provides a weekly folder to every kindergarten through second grade student. These folders go home every Wednesday for parent review and signature and contain important notes, graded papers, reports, and more. These communication tools are combined with quarterly newsletters, a PTA website, and e-mail distribution system, and other traditional communication tools.
The winner of the BSP Communicating Award in the Elementary Division goes to Rainbow Elementary PTA, Madison, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnerships
Communicating
Middle/Junior High Division
Bernice J. Causey Middle School PTSA
Mobile, Alabama
Informed parents continue to stay involved in their children’s education, and this has been a primary objective for this middle school PTSA. This objective has been addressed through many vehicles including a monthly PTSA newsletter that is mailed to the members’ homes, mid-month e-mail reminders of upcoming events, distribution of a brochure entitled "Getting to Know Your PTA", and workshops designed to assist parents retrieve information from STI and the school website. Informed parents value their PTSA membership, and this unit has surpassed its membership goal by more than 350 members by keeping two-way communication lines open.
The winner of the BSP Communicating Award in the Middle/Junior High Division is Bernice J. Causey Middle School PTSA, Mobile, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnerships
Communicating
Secondary Division
Booker T. Washington Magnet High School PTSA
Montgomery, Alabama
Communication is laden with obstacles at this school PTSA which is located in a series of buildings with little exterior signage, no intercom system, no auditorium, and few extra-curricular activities geared toward the entire student population. The campus is divided in the middle by a major downtown road, and the student population is separated into smaller entities known as magnets. The most important goal of this PTSA has been to be a channel whereby parents can obtain accurate information. Efforts to achieve this goal have included a New Student Orientation on three different days, an e-mail distribution network, an updated first day information bundle, PTSA board members acting as greeters at all entrances on the first day of school, four PTSA volunteers who serve as liaisons between the parent population and the administration, a PTSA website, workshops, and more. While much effort has been placed on communication in this PTSA, this unit recognizes that in today’s busy society, getting the attention of its members remains a constant challenge.
The winner of the BSP Communicating Award in the Secondary Division is Booker T. Washington Magnet High School PTSA, Montgomery, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnership Awards
Parenting
Building Successful Partnerships
Parenting
Elementary Division
John E. Bryan Elementary PTA
Morris, Alabama
A primary focus of an active PTA is to provide positive family activities that encourage parent/family participation in the students’ education. With Alabama leading in childhood obesity, this PTA felt it was important to increase fitness awareness among students and their families. They hosted a Family Fun Run where participants could walk, run, or ride the 5K event. Guest speakers shared their personal health struggles and achievements. In addition to involving parents in a wellness and fitness program, this local unit helped parents better understand and be involved in their students’ academic success through its Academic Family Night where stations representing five areas of curriculum were set up. Each family in attendance received a gift bag of educational tools and a book. Academic Family Night provided a fun way for parents to interact with their children while obtaining current teaching techniques and advise.
The winner of the BSP Parenting Award in the Elementary Division is John E. Bryan Elementary PTA, Morris, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnerships
Parenting
Middle/Junior High Division
North Jefferson Middle School PTA
Morris, Alabama
Parenting becomes more difficult each day especially with all the current technology. Many students are more advanced than their parents and family members with computer technology. This PTA believed it was necessary to help “clue” its parents and teachers of the dangers which we are parents are sometimes unaware. They arranged for a U.S. Postal Inspector who investigates child exploitation involving U.S. mail and the Internet to present a program entitled, “Computer Predators.”
The winner of the BSP Parenting Award in the Middle/Junior High Division is North Jefferson Middle School PTA, Morris, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnership Awards
Student Learning
Building Successful Partnerships
Student Learning
Elementary Division
Pleasant Grove Elementary School PTA
Pleasant Gove, Alabama
Literacy is fundamental to a student’s success, and hosting a Literacy Night allowed this PTA to encourage students and assist parents in this important area. All children were given a free book as they entered. Students and parents visited up to seven different stations such as Art and Literacy, Music and Literacy, DIBELS and How to Help at Home, Internet Use to Help Students, etc. The success of this program is evidenced by the school’s improved reading and DIBELS scores.
The winner of the BSP Student Learning Award in the Elementary Division is Pleasant Grove Elementary School PTA, Pleasant Gove, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnerships
Student Learning
Secondary Division
Davidson High School PTSA
Mobile, Alabama
Improved student learning through the support of special projects, particularly instructional programs, is an objective of this local unit. This year they have joined with the faculty in their goal of implementing a hands-on Engineering Lab. This lab will ultimately cost $75,000 to equip and will be implemented in three stages. The role of the PTA is to help the school build relationships that can lead to successful fundraising, to contribute partial funding, to generate parent and community support, etc. Presently, 200+ students are benefiting from the first phase of this project.
The winner of the BSP Student Learning Award in the Secondary Division is Davidson High School PTSA, Mobile, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnership Awards
Volunteering
Building Successful Partnerships
Volunteering
Elementary Division
Blount Elementary PTA
Montgomery, Alabama
This PTA elected to implement three of the suggested ideas from the volunteering standard: development of a detailed survey to find out parent interests; a volunteer orientation and equipment usage meeting; and showing appreciation to dedicated volunteers in meaningful ways. At their Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, they will provide recognition to the top volunteers based on hours (100+) and the volunteer of the year (200+ hours). In addition, their principal will be presented with a symbolic check for the value of the hours served during the year—$50,000 based on an hourly wage of $5.85.
The winner of the BSP Volunteering Award in the Elementary Division is Blount Elementary PTA, Montgomery, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnerships
Volunteering
Middle/Junior High Division
Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet School PTSA
Montgomery, Alabama
Recognizing that volunteers are an integral part of the success of not only the PTSA but the school as well, this unit determined to strengthen the number of volunteers and to capitalize on the skills of their volunteers. This was accomplished by designing a new volunteer sign up form, creating a volunteer database, and hosting a "Volunteer Training Night." More than 150 parents registered to volunteer to approximately 50 volunteers participated in the training night.
The winner of the BSP Volunteering Award in the Middle/Junior High Division is Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet School PTSA, Montgomery, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnerships
Volunteering
Secondary Division
McAdory Secondary PTSA
Bessemer, Alabama
Two years ago this local PTA unit was re-established. At that time, there was little or no parental or volunteer involvement. Many projects were put in place by the PTSA to increase parental involvement. Volunteer opportunities were created to utilize volunteers before, during and after school hours. Volunteer hours now range from 1-8 hours per day compared to the 0-2 hours per day two years ago.
The winner of the BSP Volunteering Award in the Secondary Division is
McAdory Secondary PTSA, Bessemer, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnership Awards
School Decision Making & Advocacy
Building Successful Partnerships
School Decision Making & Advocacy
Elementary Division
Jones Valley Elementary PTA
A Parent and Teacher Action Committee was established with members acting as liaisons between the parents and the school. This committee addresses many issues that are currently facing the students and their parents through a variety of methods. In particular, a "Question of the Month" is posted on the website and in the school newsletter. These questions are extensions of concerns brought forth to the committee, and parents are allowed to give their opinions and responses on the website or contact a PTAC member. Responses are collected and discussed by the PTAC, and after a consensus has been reached, findings are reported to the PTA board, school faculty, and the parents.
The winner of the BSP School Decision Making & Advocacy at the Elementary Division is Jones Valley Elementary PTA.
Building Successful Partnerships
School Decision Making & Advocacy
Junior/Middle School Division
Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet Middle School PTSA
Montgomery, Alabama
Facilitating advocacy and influencing school decision making can be challenging in all schools but particularly in a magnet program which houses two magnet schools under one umbrella. This PTSA set the standard at its first PTSA meeting of the year. Parents were encouraged to submit via e-mail questions for the principal on a variety of topics. More than three pages of questions were gathered, and the school principal discussed each question at the meeting even allowing for additional comments and questions from the audience. This event was such a success that future open forums are being planned in order to create a true open door atmosphere that will empower parents to become full partners with the school.
The winner of the BSP School Decision Making & Advocacy at the Junior/Middle School Division is Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet Middle School PTSA, Montgomery, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnerships
School Decision Making & Advocacy
Secondary Division
Virgil I. Grissom High School PTSA
Huntsville, Alabama
While this PTSA board recognizes the need to have an active and cooperative relationship with its school administration, it also recognizes its responsibility as parents and taxpayers to insure that the needs of their students are being met through their administrators and the elected school board representatives and legislators. In particular this year, this PTSA has been called upon to work with the school principal and others to secure state discretionary funds to expand the school allowing for greater safety in already overcrowded halls, greater handicap accessibility, and increased instructional space. They have organized and hosted a breakfast with state representatives and senators and school board members to discuss the steps necessary to secure the funding for an expansion. Personal handwritten notes have been sent to the key decision makers, and parents have been updated on progress throughout this effort.
The winner of the BSP School Decision Making & Advocacy Award at the Secondary Division is Virgil I. Grissom High School PTSA, Huntsville, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnership Awards
Collaborating with the Community
Building Successful Partnerships
Collaborating with the Community
Elementary Division
Academy for Academics and Arts PTA
Huntsville, Alabama
What happens when your school has fallen behind in the technology area and scored poorly on the student-computer ratio on the state report card? What if your computer lab systems are 10 years or older running on outdated software and overloading the local power supply causing outages on entire halls? When school funding wasn’t available to resolve their large scale issue, this PTA started looking to the community for support, and their efforts resulted in a mutually beneficial relationship with a local corporation—BASF–that generously donated gently-used equipment—75 CPUs, 38 flat screen monitors, 5 switches, 2 serves, 3 laptops, and a ton of smiles to the school.
The winner of the BSP Collaborating with the Community Award in the Elementary Division is Academy for Academics and Arts PTA, Huntsville, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnerships
Collaborating with the Community
Junior/Middle School Division
George Washington Junior High PTSA
Montgomery, Alabama
Students want to be involved in making the world a better place; however, many schools lack meaningful opportunities that allow students to contribute. This PTSA created a group of Ambassadors whose mission is to mold students into well-rounded individuals who are academically and service oriented. The main goal is to create, plan, and execute three service projects that give back to the community. This year’s service projects included a Veterans Observance Day, Crime Free Weekend Community Block Party, and Habitat for Humanity Homes.
The winner of the BSP Collaborating with the Community Award in the Junior/Middle School Division is George Washington Junior High PTSA, Montgomery, Alabama.
Building Successful Partnerships
Collaborating with the Community
Secondary Division
McAdory Secondary PTSA
Bessemer, Alabama
Looking for innovative ways to involve the community in your PTA? This PTSA achieved greater community involvement with the establishment of special projects. First, they held a community membership drive placing new members in a drawing for $200 toward their power bill. Flyers were placed in local banks and businesses, and a membership booth was set up outside a local grocery each Saturday in September. Second, volunteers from the community exhibited and/or demonstrated their artistic talents at a Reflections Art Expo designed to promote this unit’s Reflections program. This PTSA’s motto is “Parents, Teachers, Students, Administrators, and the Community working together to make McAdory great!”
The winner of the BSP Collaborating with the Community Award in the Secondary Division is McAdory Secondary PTSA , Bessemer, Alabama.
BSP awards recognize local PTAs whose programs and activities are based on the assessment questions for one or more of the National PTA Standards for Parent/Family Involvement. To be eligible, a PTA can develop a program or project related to one or more of the assessment questions in any of the six standards and write a narrative that shows the goal, the program/project, and evaluation/success of program/project. The six awards standards are:
- Communicating,
- Parenting,
- Student Learning,
- Volunteering,
- School Decision Making and Advocacy, and
- Collaborating with the Community.
All local unit PTAs are encouraged to submit Awards Applications. All Awards Applications must be postmarked no later than March 1st.
Information on Awards will be included in the PTA package mailed to each local unit president. Information may also be found on the Alabama PTA website. There will be revisions in the six awards standards in 2009, so please check the Local Unit President’s Package or the Alabama PTA website for updated information this summer.
Copies of the 2008 winning report in each Building Successful Partnerships standard is available through the Alabama PTA office. You may request copies of the winning reports by contacting the Alabama PTA office at al_office@pta.org.
Alabama PTA
The Alabama PTA is the strongest statewide organization working exclusively on behalf of children and youth. Founded in 1911, Alabama PTA's primary objective is to strengthen the family unit through parent involvement.