Aggies Go Live with New Safety & Hearing Technology
After many months of preparation, all six Albertville schools are now live with the latest Audio Enhancement technology. Not only can students hear better with the technology, but it’s also a tool designed to keep teachers and students safe in the classrooms.
ACS Technology and STEM Instructional Coach Spring Charles updated the board on the new features at its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 18.
Audio Enhancement seeks to maximize learning for every student. It helps students better hear what their teachers are saying while reducing vocal strain for teachers. Teachers wear the Audio Enhancement device around their necks, which allows them to move more freely around their classrooms while still being heard by students. The system also included a ball with a microphone for elementary teachers. Students can toss the ball when answering questions or during other class participation activities.
SAFE, which stands for Signal Alert For Education, is an alert and notification system that connects Albertville teachers and administrators to first responders for quick response and communication. The SAFE system is integrated into the microphone teachers wear around their neck and provides them the ability to send alerts instantly from anywhere in the school.
“These new microphones are amazing. I use it constantly, every day. It can get loud in a first-grade classroom. This technology helps my voice get louder, so I don’t have to raise my voice,” said Albertville Primary School first grade teacher Abby Jones. “Also, the safety feature…knowing that I can just press two buttons, and it notifies someone there’s an emergency is a great thing to have in our classroom. My kids love it.”
April School Spotlight: AIS
Albertville Intermediate School was also recognized at Tuesday night’s board meeting as the April School Spotlight. Principal Dr. Robert Sims showed the board a video about the great things going on at AIS. Dr. Sims recognized AIS Assistant Principals Haley Bearden and Kristy Robinson for attending the meeting.
“We appreciate you, your team, and your teachers for all that you do,” ACS Superintendent Dr. Boyd English told Dr. Sims. “We are proud of all you have done at AIS and proud of the transition you are making now.”
Dr. Sims is transferring into a new role as principal of the English Language programs and alternative education platforms for students across multiple grade levels.
Watkins Named Assistant Superintendent, Hudgins Principal at AIS
In a special called board meeting on April 21, Todd Watkins was named the new assistant superintendent of Albertville City Schools. Watkins currently serves as the Executive Director of Student Services for Albertville. With this new position, the Executive Director of Student Services position will be vacated and not filled. Mr. Watkins will keep that role with added duties of the Assistant Superintendent.
“Todd has been with us since 2021. We have complete confidence in him and what he can do for our system in this new role,” said Dr. English.
Also at the meeting, Steven Hudgins was named the new principal at Albertville Intermediate School. Mr. Hudgins is currently the assistant principal at AKPK.
“Steven is no stranger to Albertville. We are very proud to have him as our new principal at Albertville Intermediate School,” said Dr. English. “We are proud of him and his foresight. He’s creative and an innovative thinker. He brings a great perspective and lots of ideas.”
Photo: All six Albertville schools are now live with the latest Audio Enhancement technology. Not only can students hear better with the technology, but it’s also a tool designed to keep teachers and students safe in the classrooms. Pictured is Albertville Intermediate School teacher Ali Ham. Teachers wear the Audio Enhancement device around their necks, which allows them to move more freely around their classrooms while still being heard by students. The SAFE system is integrated into the microphone and provides them the ability to send alerts instantly, from anywhere in the school.
Scenes from the outdoor concert at SMPA
Aggie FCCLA Excels at State Conference
ALBERTVILLE – Seven Albertville High School Family Career and Community Leaders of America have qualified to attend the National FCCLA Conference coming up in July in Denver, Colo.
Albertville’s FCCLA chapter visited Montgomery in March to attend the FCCLA State Leadership Conference.
In October, students began preparing speeches, visual boards, projects, and events for various segments of the competition. Activities included student teaching in various classrooms, volunteering with the non-profit group The Maker’s Child. The group also planned and hosted a large event the day before Valentine’s Day for families from The Maker’s Child and Albertville City Schools inclusion students. They spent numerous hours in the kitchen perfecting recipes.
“Each of them did so well. I was so impressed with them,” said Advisor and AHS teacher Brittanee Johnson. “Their attitude, enthusiasm and poise just made our program shine.”
The seven students who qualified for nationals include:
- Mariano Andres, who received first place in Chapter Service Project.
- Hong Wa NG (Daisy), who received first place in Baking and Pastry.
- Yenifer Aguilar Perez, who received third place in Culinary Arts.
- Sara Bledsoe, Madgie Bolt, and Esmeralda Rios Sebastian, who received second place in Event Management.
- Dulce Jarquin, who received second place in Teach or Train.
Now, the students are working to raise money to support their projects being showcased at nationals. Students are fundraising to help support the cost of travel expenses.
Currently, students are selling tickets for a BBQ plate pickup scheduled for Friday, May 12, at Albertville High School. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased from any culinary or event planning student or online. Plates can be picked up between 4-6 p.m.
“With this fundraiser, students not only have a great opportunity to raise funds, but all of our AHS Culinary students will have a project-based lesson on mass food production,” said Johnson
Photo: Albertville High School’s FCCLA chapter visited Montgomery in March to attend the FCCLA State Leadership Conference. Pictured left to right on the front is AHS teacher Brittanee Johnson, Deci Williams, Emma Rhoden, Sara Bledsoe, Dulce Jarquin, Sarah Hempel, and AHS teacher Lauren Richards; back row, Caden Staton, Alex Lopez, Marino Andres, Yenifer Aguilar Perez, Hong Wa NG (Daisy), Esmeralda Rios Sebastian, and Madgie Bolt. Not pictured is Caleb Griffin.
New Coaches Meet and Greet
AHS held a meet and greet recently with new head football coach Bert Browne and boys basketball head coach Major Deacon.
Albertville Culinary Team Takes Home Top Prize
The Albertville High School culinary team took home the top prize at the Alabama ProStart Student Invitational, marking the fourth time in seven years for them to do so. The victory earned them a spot at the National ProStart Student Invitational coming up in May in Washington, D.C.
ProStart is a high school program that gives students interested in food service and hospitality careers a head start by teaching culinary techniques and management skills through an industry-driven curriculum. Upon successful completion of the ProStart program, students receive an industry-recognized certificate, and employers get well-prepared, enthusiastic employees.
“This competition is one of my favorite opportunities that we offer students in our program,” said Albertville High School teacher Lauren Richards. “You really get to see firsthand their creativity, passion and teamwork.”
A total of 25 teams from across the state competed in the competition held in February at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach. The teams compete in culinary and management events, which are judged by industry professionals and experts. The annual competition is hosted by the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association Foundation.
“ProStart students represent the future of the restaurant and hospitality industry,” said Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association President and CEO Mindy Hanan. “This competition is an incredible opportunity for those students to showcase the skills learned in the classroom through the ProStart program and their passion for the industry.”
The ProStart competition is unique in that students are not able to use a conventional stove or oven, no battery or electric-powered equipment, and no refrigerator. The teams only have access to two tabletop butane burners, coolers that they have to pack appropriately, and water that they must wash produce in before production time begins. They have 60 minutes to prepare a three-course meal.
The Aggies competed in the culinary division of the competition and took home first place in the state. In addition to winning the culinary competition, students were awarded multiple scholarships to top postsecondary culinary programs. Over $100,000 in scholarships were awarded to the winning teams.
Albertville High School’s culinary team includes Sara Bledsoe, Hong Wa NG, Yenifer Aguilar Perez, Emma Rhoden and Jaxon Dendy. The team is led by instructors Lauren Richards and Brittanee Johnson.
The team’s menu this year included a starter of wasabi soy almond dusted scallops with pomegranate aril, green apple and radish slaw, honey chili sauce and raspberry sauce topped with microgreens from Short Creek Homestead. For an entrée, the students presented a petite filet of beef with pureed parmesan potatoes, sesame carrot ribbons, sauteed spinach and soy balsamic sauce topped with a fried eggroll triangle. The students’ dessert selection was a Japanese souffle pancake with raspberry sauce, lemon curd, dragon fruit spheres, assorted fresh berries and edible flowers from Short Creek Homestead.
“It is absolutely amazing what our team was able to accomplish,” said Ms. Richards. “I am so incredibly proud of this team of students that dedicated their time and skills to every single practice and this competition. They have grown as a team, learned new skills, earned amazing scholarships, and networked with so many industry leaders.”
With this year’s win, Albertville High School now has the most first place wins in the culinary competition in the state.
“We wouldn’t have been able to do this without our sponsors. Thank you to each person, organization, business and mentor that made a donation to our program and this competition. We are super excited to represent our entire state in the culinary division of the competition at the National ProStart Student Invitational in May,” added Ms. Richards.
The team is seeking additional support from the community to help with the cost of attending the national competition. Donations can be mailed to Albertville High School and made payable to the Albertville High School Culinary Team.
Photo: The Albertville High School culinary team took home the top prize at the Alabama ProStart Student Invitational, marking the fourth time in seven years for them to do so. The victory earned them a spot at the National ProStart Student Invitational coming up in May in Washington, D.C. Pictured, from left, is AHS Secondary ProStart Instructor Brittanee Johnson, team members Sara Bledsoe, Emma Rhoden, Jaxon Dendy, Yenifer Aguilar Perez, Hong Wa NG (Daisy), and AHS Lead ProStart Instructor Lauren Richards.
Major Deacon Named Aggie Boys Basketball Coach
Major Deacon knows there’s some work to be done. Then again, he’s no stranger to hard work.
Deacon was announced as the new Albertville High School boys basketball coach on Thursday, taking over for Dylan Bunnell, who had led the Aggies for two seasons.
“We’re excited to get a young man who has a great deal of passion for the game and a knack for turning programs around,” said Albertville High School Principal Jordan Phillips. “He’s a guy with a lot of intelligence, intensity, and discipline. We are excited to welcome Coach Deacon to the Aggie family.”
Deacon was approved unanimously at Thursday morning’s special called board meeting.
“I talked to two other superintendents, and they both said the same thing. ‘This guy can coach.’ A third told me Coach Deacon was instrumental in turning around our basketball program to what it is today. The last I spoke talked about what a tight ship, highly disciplined and organized program he runs,” said Dr. English. “When you say a guy can coach, that he’s instrumental in turning around a program, and he’s organized, runs a disciplined program and is a winner, that’s pretty good. We’re proud to have him at Albertville.”
At age 25, Deacon took his first varsity head coach position, coaching girls basketball at Baker High, the second largest school in the state of Alabama. He spent one year as Baker’s girls coach, immediately changing that team’s fortunes. The Hornets went from 3-21 before Deacon took over to 12-15 in his only season as the head coach. The team finished second in the area and made a regional appearance.
He then replaced Jeb Blackerby as the boys coach, going 40-22 in two seasons. Previously, the team had finished 15-15. His teams reached the South Regional both years and won back-to-back area championships.
Deacon left Baker to become a graduate assistant coach at Northwestern State University while earning his master’s degree in sports administration. The university is a member of the NCAA and competes in the Southland Conference at the NCAA Division I level.
Part of the master’s program required an internship, which led Deacon to become a varsity assistant coach at Thompson High School in Alabaster. He helped guide the team to a 21-win season and regional playoff appearance following a 1-28 season the previous year.
Deacon, 35, spent three years at Austin High School in Decatur. In his final season, Black Bears were in the Class 7A top 10 rankings for several weeks. The team went 20-11 and earned a trip to the Northwest Regional. During his stint at Austin, he went 51-34 with one area championship and two trips to the regional tournament.
Deacon’s first season as head coach was Austin’s second in Class 7A. The Black Bears won the area championship and lost to Spain Park 60-46 in the regional semifinals. The next season was hit hard by COVID and pandemic restrictions. The Black Bears went 10-12 and lost in the area tournament semifinals to James Clemens 71-68.
Most recently, Deacon guided the Pleasant Home Eagles to a playoff appearance despite graduating four senior starters the year prior.
“I’m really excited to be here,” said Deacon. “I think Albertville has first-class administration, good kids and a community that anyone would love to be a part of. I’m just ready to get started.”
Deacon graduated from Baker in Mobile in 2007. He played basketball at the University of Mobile.
Senior Picnic and College Signing Day
