Pike Road Area Student Spotlights June ’22

Macon East football and basketball star player, Tyler Daniels was recently honored at a signing ceremony in the Macon East Academy school gym after choosing to play football for the Bethel University Wildcats.  Tyler is a 2-year starter for the Knights football team and played outside linebacker and wide receiver. He totaled 508 receiving yards and eight touchdowns this past season. Tyler is one of 6 members of the Class of 2022 continuing their athletic endeavors at the collegiate level.

Congratulations to the high school students inducted into Macon East Academy’s chapter of the Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society: Jameson Byrom, Kaiden Byrom, Anna Watson, Tanner Surles, Barrett Spaeth, Dalton Nickles, Ethan Jones and Will Dekle.  Mu Alpha Theta recognizes excellence in mathematics, and the MEA chapter is sponsored by Mrs. Melissa Baker.

PRJHS and PRHS Robotics teams recently competed in the 2022 VEX Robotics VRC World Championship in Dallas, TX. The Big Brains high school team battled hard to make it all the way to division semifinals, putting them in the top 40 Alliances out of approximately 820 of the best robotics teams from around the world! They were also awarded the prestigious honor of the VEX Worlds Sportsmanship Award! According to VEX, the Sportsmanship Award is presented to a team that has earned the respect and admiration of the volunteers and other teams at the event. Braden Crowe, Luke Hastings, Langston Morgan, and Josh Martin embody the Pike Road mission of taking ownership of their learning and inspiring others to think, innovate, and create.

Congratulations to the Pike Road Patriot Girl’s Golf Team for winning the AHSAA 4A-5A State Championship! Team Members include 8th Grader Beka Yang, Freshman Lauren Leonard, and Junior Yvette Gordon. Special thanks to Coach Ted White and assistant Coach Brooke Sansom for their dedication and leadership. Go Patriots!

Every year across the state, a group of girls are nominated by their math or science teacher for a chance to be selected to attend a high level technology program. This program is built to honor and encourage young women who excel, and show promise, in the area of STEM learning. For the first time, we have 2 PRS learners chosen for this honor.

After a rigorous interview and screening process by Tech Trek, C7 students Raven Hester and Kennedy Thompson have been chosen to attend STEM camp this summer, and represent Pike Road Schools. This honor is well deserved, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for these bright young scientists!

The Pike Road Ladies Auxiliary awarded its Community Service Scholarship for 2021-2022 to two excellent students. The two individuals were selected from a large pool of applications. Scholarships recipients. Payton Early and Jay Moore were honored with an appreciation dinner on April 14, 2022.

Early, daughter of Latrice Greene of Montgomery, is a graduate of Lee High School. She plans to attend UAB and major in Chemistry or Chemical Biomedical Engineering.

Early was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, Sigma Tau Theta, Rh Rho Kappa, National Speech and Drama Club, the Chorales, and the Lee Debate Club. She volunteers with her church, Mercy Baptist Church, volunteered in food drives , toy drives and served as a volunteer office aide at Lee high School. Payton credits her grandmother for getting her involved with volunteer work. Payton enjoys science classes and has a passion for cosmetics and the beauty industry.

Moore, son of Julian and Rebecca Moore of Fitzpatrick, is a graduate of Macon East Academy. He plans to attend Auburn University and major in engineering.

Moore was a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, Mu Alpha Theta, Macon East Scholars Bowl, Macon East Drama Club, Macon East Honors Society, Fellowship of Christian Students, Macon East Soccer team and all honors classes. He volunteers with Fitzpatrick VFD, ground keeper for the Fitzpatrick Community pool, grounds keeper for the Fitzpatrick Cemetery, assist community members in mending fences, yard work and general clean up. Jay enjoys deer, duck and quail hunting and a game of cornhole.

Early and Moore both received $500.00. They have demonstrated a passion for volunteering while maintaining a level of academic achievement.

Andrea Maness has been named principal of Pike Road High School. Ms. Maness comes to Pike Road from Carroll High School in Ozark, where she has been the principal for the last three years. Before becoming principal, she was a secondary math teacher for eleven years and assistant principal at Carroll High School for four years.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Comprehensive Mathematics Education from Troy State University in 2004, Masters of Science degree in Instructional Leadership and Administration from Troy University Dothan in 2014, an Educational Specialist degree in Instructional Leadership from the University of West Alabama in 2020, and is currently an Educational Doctorate candidate at the University of Alabama. Her area of research is Rural Education with a focus on Organizational Change and Leadership.

During her tenure, Carroll High School became the first Cognia STEM-certified school in the state of Alabama, was named both a “School of Excellence” and a “School of Distinction” by A+ College Ready and was recently named a “Purple Heart School” recognizing efforts to support military students and families.

Ms. Maness has been recognized for her leadership qualities by being named the 2021 AASSP District 2 Principal of the Year. She was later named a top-three finalist for Principal of the Year in Alabama. Some of Ms. Maness’ professional affiliations include the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools, Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals, CLAS Certified Instructional Leadership Program, Troy University Department of Teacher Education Advisory
Council, Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Program Area Chairperson, Leading Edge Program, and Cognia STEM Certification Certified Team Member.

Ms. Maness is a native of Troy, AL. She is married to Allen Maness. Together, they have two children, Emma (3rd grade) and Sam (PreK). When their family is not participating in school activities, they enjoy spending time together playing outside or at a nearby fishing hole.

When asked about her new position, Ms. Maness expressed excitement and a desire to immerse herself in the community and the Pike Road Way. “We are ecstatic about becoming members of a school community that we consider to be one of the premier districts in Alabama. In the fall, Emma will be joining Pike Road Intermediate School as a 4th grader, and Sam will be joining Pike Road Elementary School as a Kindergartener. Pike Road High School already has such a rich foundation. We plan to come and immediately contribute to helping this community reach even greater levels of success. Everyone has already been so welcoming and helpful. We know that this will be a place that we can call home for many years. We’re two feet in! Go Patriots!”

Ms. Maness officially begins on June 1, but she is already working on coordinating with school and district staff and planning for next school year.

Another successful Mattress Fundraiser for the Pike Road Band! Thank you to everybody who spread the word, advertised, supported, and purchased a mattress. Huge thanks to Charlie and his team for their amazing work and we look forward to next year’s sale! We have now made just over $20,000 from this sale in only 4 years!

The Pike road elementary dance classes take ballet, tap and jazz after school with Tonya Speed’s dance connection on Mondays and Wednesdays. The girls did a great job performing in their winter show this year.

During the month of April, we celebrated our military learners and their families. Pictured here are a few PRIS learners with their military parents. We honor them and thank them for their service and sacrifice! In addition to celebrating Month of the Military Child, all 4 schools in the Pike Road Schools District were awarded the “Purple Star School” designation for their efforts to assist military children with school transition and developing programs that recognize military service and civic responsibility.