Story By Katie Hightower
On Dec. 11, the Scottsboro City Schools Board of Education held its monthly board meeting. At the meeting, the board recognized athletic teams, teachers of the year and a National Merit Scholar. The board held a sealed initial vote in the superintendent selection process but did not release the name of the candidate selected.
Alley Miller, a Caldwell Elementary student, began the meeting and led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Principal Jeff Tubbs then recognized Scottsboro High School’s swim teams. The girls team placed third overall in team points at state. Girls swimmers recognized included Baylie Giles, Morella Caldron-Diez, Vivian Hunnicutt, Dayra Caldron, Breelyn Orgill and Hannah Jenkins.
The boys swim team placed fourth overall in team points. Boys swimmers recognized included Craft Sanders, Ryder Linville, Ben Bradford, Jacob Fanning, Balin Hunnicutt, Brody Thompson and Eli Armour. Swim coaches recognized included Robert Fanning, Matt Brewer, Diane Richard and Trina Giles.
Principal Tubbs recognized Scottsboro High School’s cross country teams. The girls team was the 2024 state runner-up. SHS girls who placed in the top 15 in Alabama included Banks Bradford, Reese Avenel and Mia Martin. State qualifiers included Julia Epps, Brylee Bradford, Laurel Rice, Lora Kate Reed, Amber Shelton, Asdyn Gamble and Jillian Mayhan.
The SHS boys team was the 2025 Class 5A Cross Country Champions. The 2025 win earned SHS its 18th state championship and tied SHS with Mountain Brook for the most boys cross country state titles in Alabama. Boys recognized at the meeting included Ryder Linville, who earned his second individual state championship win in a row, Keyton Allen, Kaden Price, Patton Russell, Miles Hodges, Austin Roberts, Hogan Richardson, Andrew Barber and Will Paradise. Cross country coaches recognized were Luke Robinson, Sarah Hodges, Doug Howes and Patrick Laney.
Principal Tubbs then recognized Sawyer McWilliams as qualifying for the National Merit Commended Student List due to his PSAT performance.
Interim Superintendent Jason Hass recognized SCS’s Teachers of the Year. Each school had its own teacher of the year, and from those, one teacher was recognized as the district’s teacher of the year. Teachers recognized included Nelson’s Asia Tolliver, Caldwell’s Emma Warren, Collins’ Jennifer Randall, Scottsboro Junior High’s Trina Giles and Scottsboro High School’s Cindy Wade. This year’s District Teacher of the Year was Emma Warren. Hass presented Warren with a large floral arrangement.
After the recognitions, the board approved the October meeting and work session minutes along with the financial statements for September and October. The board then approved all action items on the agenda, which included personnel, special education open purchase orders, FY 2026 OSR Pre-K budgets, a part-time art teacher contract for Collins, a nursing contract, an out-of-state travel and leave request for the softball team, a memorandum of understanding between SCS and the Woolley Institute for spoken-language education and the technology inventory removal list.
The board took a break to give board member Patrick Woosley extra time to arrive for the superintendent selection process. He was unable to attend. Each board member present wrote their choice for superintendent on a card and placed it into an envelope. The sealed envelope was given to Starla Finch to report to the state.
The board met on Dec. 13 and announced Jennifer Williams as the new superintendent. The next board meeting will be held on Jan. 8 at 5 p.m. in the Bynum Auditorium of the Page Administration Building.
