Local Schools

The Operation Wipeout team met today at the CCSD. We know that Chambers County has had the highest incidence of Cervical Cancer in the State of Alabama. Today we are excited to share the 23-24 numbers from the of Alabama Department of Public Health. HPV vaccine numbers to prevent cervical cancer grew for grades 9-12 at LHS from a range of 70% to 93%. Likewise, the same numbers at VHS increased to a range of 60% to 72.59% students vaccinated against HPV. The numbers also increased at both middle schools. The CCSD is thankful to partner with this team to wipe out cervical cancer here in Chambers County. Please watch the link below to learn more about this story and cause: https://drive.google.com/.../1F4DtrUE5efxU3d98mgHPVd.../view

Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC) has named Gretchen VanValkenburg as Executive Director of Advancement and Community Relations. VanValkenburg brings more than two decades of experience working in higher education advancement and development. She assumed the role on May 13 and will direct and implement a comprehensive strategic plan for all fundraising, marketing and community engagement initiatives as well as serve as the liaison to the Southern Union Foundation board. “We are excited to welcome Gretchen as our new Executive Director of Advancement,” said SUSCC President Todd Shackett. “The college has placed a renewed emphasis on raising awareness and support for our Foundation, and Gretchen brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm for this effort.” VanValkenburg most recently served as the Vice President of Engagement and Executive Director at Auburn University's Alumni Association where she spearheaded initiatives to cultivate and fortify relationships across a...

Opelika Native, Bryson McGlynn dropped by Glynn Smith Chevrolet GMC for a meet and greet this week following his Masterchef Junior Championship. McGlynn won the Masterchef Junior Trophy on National TV on the Fox Network and captivated the community through his amazing cooking skills. "The City of Opelika is so proud of you! You represented us well. Congratulations young man on winning Masterchef Junior", said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller who read McGlynn a Proclamation on behalf of the city.

Congratulations to the Opelika High School Class of 2024! Graduation is tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium. Livestream is available here: https://bit.ly/2024OHSLiveStream

Congratulations Springwood Wildcats Class of 2024

Southern Union State Community College  is proud to announce that Social Science Instructor and Social Science Department Chair, Brent Catchings, has been granted admission to the inaugural Faculty Seminar on World War II History at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. Among a select cohort of only 22 national scholars, Catchings will undergo an intensive, week-long study aimed at deepening his understanding and expertise in the complexities of World War II history. This prestigious seminar aims to equip active college and university faculty with in-depth knowledge and insights, enabling them to further develop, promote, and craft history courses and course content relevant to this pivotal global conflict. Catchings' selection for this distinguished program underscores his dedication to scholarly excellence and his commitment to advancing historical education within both the academic realm and the broader community. In addition to his role as an educator, Cat...

The Valley Police Department will begin taking registration for the Junior Police Academy The Academy will be June 10th - 13th from 8 am to 2 pm at the Valley Community Center. This is for upcoming Kindergarteners thru upcoming 6th graders ONLY!!! Registration Forms for the Valley Police Dept. Junior Police Academy 2024 is available at Valley City Hall!! !

Pictured above is Tiffany Dean-Johnson with her son, Carlin Johnson, and her sister, Sharra Wimberly . The Chambers County School District is pleased to announce the hiring of Mrs. Tiffany Dean-Johnson as the system’s new Director of Federal Programs. Mrs. Dean-Johnson succeeds Mrs. LaKeyda Davis who will be retiring on June 30th to relocate with family to Georgia. Mrs. Davis will begin working with the Cobb County School System for the 2024-25 school year. Mrs. Davis submitted her retirement intentions last month after ten years of service with the Chambers County School District as a former principal at Eastside Elementary and Federal Programs Director with the Board of Education. Mrs. Davis will officially finish up her final day on the job on Thursday, June 27th with the CCSD. Mrs. Dean-Johnson is an experienced lifetime educator with 32 plus years of experience having recently retired from public education in Georgia in 2022. She has spent the last two years working as an ed...

The CCSD hosted Board Recognition for the District's Academic "Top 3" at Monday night's Board Meeting on May 20, 2024. LaFayette HS "Top Three" were #1) Danasia Thomas, #2) Ny’aiza Linson, and #3) Deaundra Vines. Valley HS's "Top Three" were #1) Jackson Sanders, #2) Nevaeh Crane and #3) Lily Smith. CCSD Superintendent, Dr. Casey Chambley presented awards to each of the "Top Three" in recognition of their accomplishments. Congratulations to all the students for their outstanding academic achievements!

The Chambers County School District is pleased to announce the hiring of Mr. Troy Kelley as the new Rams principal at Valley High School. Mr. Kelley will be making the move from his current role as Principal at Inspire Academy in LaFayette. Mr. Kelley will succeed Mr. Montray Thompson who had served as the VHS principal since 2021. Mr. Kelley has been serving high school students from both attendance zones in the district as the career technical principal since the start of the 2023-24 academic year. Mr. Kelley is excited about this new challenge of being named as, the next principal at Valley High School. He is committed to building a culture of trust and teamwork with the staff to focus on student achievement. He plans to make a difference with all students whether they plan to pursue a career in the workforce, further their education in college or enter the military. His vision is fortoto develop into developing greater academic success for all of the students at Valley High S...

During Monday's City of Lanett Council Meeting, the  Council recognized the Top Lanett Panthers and Springwood Graduates ahead of next week's graduation.

Fairfax Elementary School was recently recognized as the top school fundraiser in the “Change and Dollars Makes Sense” effort for the Hike Bike Run with a total of $3,033.00. The picture below shows Fairfax students and staff proudly displaying the plaque they received for their efforts .

In the heart of Alabama, nestled within the vibrant community of Opelika, a groundbreaking initiative is underway, setting a high standard for early childhood education nationwide. With a dedicated focus on nurturing the potential of its youngest citizens, Opelika’s innovative Pre-K program is not only shaping young minds but also cultivating a foundation for its future workforce. At the forefront of this educational movement is Opelika High School. Six First Class Pre-K classes are housed within the walls of the high school. This strategic partnership between early education high school students and Pre-K learners is transforming the landscape of early education. "We firmly believe that investing in early childhood education is paramount to building a strong workforce and a thriving community. We're not just preparing these children for kindergarten; we're laying the groundwork for a lifetime of learning and giving back to the community that poured into them," expres...