HCS Index
June 9, 2022
HCS Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ron Dodson Retires After Three Decades with the District
Hoover City Schools (HCS) District Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ron Dodson will retire later this month after 34 years as an educator in the district. Dr. Dodson’s career began in 1988 as a teacher when the school system was established, and he recalls the vision of HCS’ first superintendent, Dr. Robert Mitchell.
“Back in 1988, Dr. Robert Mitchell told us that Hoover City Schools would be a learning laboratory, and I believe we have built on that legacy with innovation and an emphasis on engaged learning,” said Dr. Dodson.
During his tenure with HCS, Dr. Dodson served as a science teacher at the former W.A. Berry High School, assistant principal at Hoover and Spain Park High Schools, director of curriculum and instruction, and director of the Riverchase Career Connection Center (RC3). Dr. Dodson played an integral role in the planning and development of RC3, the school system’s state-of-the-art career training facility, which opened in 2019. At RC3, students can learn hands-on skills in five (5) academies: Culinary and Hospitality, Cyber Innovation, Fire Science, Health Science, and Skilled Trades. RC3 students earn industry credentials that lead to jobs and apprenticeships upon graduation from high school.
Dr. Dodson encourages HCS employees to keep innovating and growing their skills as educators and leaders.
“Our society is stressed from the pandemic, and public schools are a critical pillar of the democratic ideals that can restore our confidence and competence as participating citizens in society,” said Dr. Dodson. “Learning and living will be different in some ways after the pandemic, but that doesn't mean it can't be better. Don't give up, and don't be afraid to try new ways. I wish that I could thank Jack Farr and Gene Godwin for the lessons they poured into me. Both of these men passed away too soon, but they left this school system better than they found it, and I hope that I've done the same,” added Dr. Dodson.
“Not only are we losing a good moral man, but we are also losing an outstanding educator, said HCS Superintendent Dr. Dee O. Fowler. “Dr. Dodson is an educator that has proven his worth in the classroom, local school administrative offices, and in the district office. He takes with him an encyclopedic knowledge of the district. Dr. Dodson has shared his knowledge and experience to help not only Hoover City Schools but has been a stable “go-to” for answers posed by administrators across the state. He is a rare and precious gem that will be sorely missed," said Dr. Fowler.
A retirement celebration was held for Dr. Dodson at RC3 and RC3's Culinary and Hospitality Academy students catered the event. Dr. Dodson says he’s looking forward to traveling and catching up on home improvement projects. His last day is on June 30, 2022.
Read the full article here.
Congratulations to Hoover High School and Spain Park High School Class of 2022 Graduates!
Free Learning Resources for Students to Fight Summer Learning Loss
The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) kicked off its annual 2022 Alabama Summer Learning Challenge. ALSDE officials say summer learning is a vital part of a student’s foundational learning and social development and strengthens a student’s academic understanding during the summer months.
For the 2022 Summer Learning Challenge, Alabama parents have access to even more online resources to advance their children’s reading, math, and science skills! These resources are easy to access and will encourage students throughout the summer. Click the following link to see the summer learning resources for students https://bit.ly/3Mx6gdK.
Hoover City Schools Summer Reading Opportunities
There are also summer learning opportunities for Hoover City Schools that we encourage students and parents to take advantage of to prevent summer learning loss. See the options below:
*For K-8 students, log in to i-Ready for math and reading lessons and instruction that are engaging and personalized for each student's learning ability. Also, continue to access myON (available on Chromebooks) and visit the Hoover Public Library for online resources and titles, as well as to view many different summer opportunities.
*For middle and high school students, check with your school for a list of recommended books for summer reading.
*For Bluff Park Elementary School students, each Thursday at 4:00 pm is Books on the Bluff. The location for Books on the Bluff is Cadence at Bluff Park, and there are book read-alouds, snacks, and other fun activities! See the flyer below for more information.
2022 Professional Development Opportunities for HCS Employees
There are dozens of opportunities for professional development for Hoover City Schools educators. Hoover City Schools has created a website featuring 2022 HCS Summer Professional Learning Opportunities. Hoover teachers - register today!
NOTE: Participation in summer 2022 professional development will provide applicable HCS employees with the opportunity to earn up to two days (12 hours) of flex PD credit to count toward August 4 and 5 District Professional Development Days.
HCS Summer Feeding Program Offers Free Meals for Students
Free curbside meal pickup is available for Hoover City Schools (HCS) families through June 30. The Meals in Motion Bus will be parked at the Hoover Public Library Monday through Thursday from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Several food items are packed in bags, including milk, fruit, breakfast foods, sandwiches, and snacks. The meal pickup service will not be available on June 20.
"The Child Nutrition Program of Hoover City Schools is serving free healthy meals to all kids and teens up to 18 years old during the month of June. These meals provide nutritional support for children and benefit the community during food supply uncertainties," said HCS Child Nutrition Program Director Melinda Bonner.
Free meals are also available for students enrolled in the Hoover City Schools District Summer Literacy Camp held at Riverchase Elementary School.
Major Renovations and Upgrades at Hoover Schools
Crews are busy at several Hoover City Schools this summer making improvements, and approximately $4.5M is being spent on extensive restroom renovations. You'll notice lots of work being done at the following schools:
*Green Valley Elementary School
*Gwin Elementary School
*Rocky Ridge Elementary School
*Shades Mountain Elementary School
*Simmons Middle School
The renovations and upgrades are based on school needs. They include restroom renovations as mentioned above, as well as fixture repairs/replacements, new flooring, painting, ceiling repairs/replacement, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) modifications, new lighting, and exhaust and ventilation improvements.
Transportation Department Gets New Air-Conditioned Buses
The Hoover City Schools (HCS) District Transportation Department is excited about the new additions added to its fleet of school buses. Thirteen 2023 Blue Bird buses equipped with air-conditioning systems have just arrived, and seven more buses will be here in a few weeks.
HCS spent nearly $2M to invest in a more comfortable bus ride for students and bus drivers. All of the school system's special needs buses are equipped with air conditioning, and there were five (5) new special needs buses purchased in 2021.
Jeremy Bradford, HCS director of transportation, said, "It is always a very exciting day in our department when we receive new buses. This year, we added 20 new air-conditioned buses to the fleet while retrofitting 31 of our existing buses. Our students and drivers will start the 2022-2023 school year with 51 air-conditioned buses, which is half our regular education bus fleet. Based on our current plan, all of our buses will have air conditioning within a few years. We thank Dr. Fowler, members of the Board of Education, and Mrs. McCay for making this dream a reality."
The purchase of 20 more new buses is included in the 2023 Capital Plan, which was approved during the Hoover Board of Education's June 2022 meeting.
HCS 2021-2022 Teachers of the Year Reception
The Hoover City Schools (HCS) District honored all of our school-level 2021-2022 Teachers of the Year during a reception on Wednesday, May 17.
Bluff Park Elementary School's Geri Evans and Hoover High School's Paul McEwan represented Hoover in the 2022 Alabama Teacher of the Year competition, and both were selected as part of the “Sweet 16”, which are the Top 16 finalists for the statewide competition. Evans then advanced to the next level of the competition as one of the “Final Four” finalists for the Alabama Teacher of the Year.
HCS is beyond proud of our state finalists and each one of the district’s Teachers of the Year. Congratulations, and thank you for your commitment to excellence as an educator and the success of all students!
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3PwQSB0
Hoover City Schools Teacher Spotlight: Part 1
Meet Some of the Outstanding Educators of the Hoover City Schools District!
"This is a well-rounded experience as a teacher. You get everything. You get the support, great teachers to work alongside and parents who are supportive, and good community involvement. Those are things that are unique to this school system and I’m very grateful for it." - Shaina Cadet, a 3rd-year teacher for Hoover City Schools.
Watch the video to hear from new and veteran educators about what makes Hoover City Schools so great!
For important information about new and returning student registration and instructions on how to get your student(s) registered, please click here to be redirected to the enrollment webpage on our website and scroll down to the PowerSchool Enrollment section. If you're registering a NEW student, please click on the link provided on the webpage.
For RETURNING students, parents will receive an email with a link to complete their child's registration. Please visit the enrollment webpage for more details.
Click here to watch an overview video of the PowerSchool enrollment site.
Multilingual Families Registration Fairs for the 2022-2023 School Year
As a service for our multilingual families, the Hoover City Schools District will provide interpreters and translation support to assist with the registration process for the next school year.
Families will have three (3) opportunities to receive additional assistance beginning July 19 through July 21, 2022. These events will be held in three (3) convenient locations both during the day and the evening. Select the event that best fits your schedule.
Click the following link for more information and to view the Multilingual Families Registration Fair form- https://bit.ly/3sGTrXs
2021-2022 Spotlight on HCS Bands
Spotlight #3: Bumpus Middle School
It’s been an excellent year for the Bumpus Band! This year the band had 46 students selected for the Samford and Montevallo honor bands. Nineteen students earned spots in the Alabama Bandmasters Association (ABA) District IV Middle School Honor Band, which is comprised of the best middle school band students from the Birmingham metro area.
Five students earned a position in the 2022 ABA Middle School All-State Bands, with three additional students from Bumpus being selected as All-State alternates. The ABA Middle School All-State Jazz Band, which is made up of the best 21 middle school jazz musicians from Alabama, had 11 students from Bumpus (a majority of the total roster) selected to its ranks.
Both the Bumpus Symphonic Band and the Bumpus Concert Band earned straight superior ratings at the ABA District IV Music Performance Assessment, the highest level of achievement.
Josh Lynch, band director at Bumpus Middle School, said, “In the field of education currently, data-driven decision making has become paramount. The data listed here cannot be refuted and shows the impact music education has on students' lives. None of these accomplishments have anything to do with me but have everything to do with the incredible students we have and their families, the skilled teachers with whom I work, and the incredible administration at Bumpus who always allows us to structure our band program the way we believe is best for our students.” Read the full article here.
Hoover City Schools
EEOC Notice
Email: hcsnotices@hoover.k12.al.us
Website: hoovercityschools.net
Location: 2810 Metropolitan Way, Birmingham, AL, USA
Phone: 205-439-1000
Facebook: facebook.com/HooverCitySchools
Twitter: @HooverSchools