Every month we compile a list of students doing great things across the River Region. We have so many talented students in our area. River Region Parents joins with their families and schools to celebrate their achievements!
Holtville’s Kyle Futral Named Alabama Principal of the Year
Kyle Futral, principal of Holtville High School, has been named 2022 Alabama High School Principal of the Year by the Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP).
Futral has served a total of 15 years in education with the last seven in administration. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Huntingdon College in 2007. In 2014, he received a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership from Auburn University.
The High School Principal of the Year award was presented to Futral on January 28 at Holtville High School at a schoolwide assembly. Elmore County Superintendent Richard Dennis was in attendance for the presentation. American Fidelity Assurance sponsors this award annually and Interior Elements grants an office makeover to the winner.
As principal of Holtville High, Futral has transformed the school culture from that of a school struggling with low morale, achievement and attendance, to a school that strives for excellence. Futral’s leadership style of listening, encouraging, supporting, organizing and challenging the staff and students, caused the school culture to shift in a positive direction.
Futral was chosen from three district finalists. The finalists interviewed with a panel of judges at the AASSP/AAMSP Fall Conference in November where the winner was determined. The other finalists were Terina Gantt of Demopolis High School in Demopolis City Schools and Seth Taylor of Pleasant Valley High School in Calhoun County Schools. An overall winner will be chosen from the High School and Middle School Principals of the Year and will be recognized as Alabama’s Principal of the Year.
Futral will be recognized at the Awards Luncheon during the CLAS Convention on June 14, at the BJCC in Birmingham. The CLAS Convention is the largest gathering of school leaders in the state of Alabama. He will also be recognized at the AASSP/AAMSP Fall Conference in November 2022.
Burdette Named Athletic Director At New Life Christian Academy
Zach Burdette was recently named the athletic director at New Life Christian Academy in Millbrook. Burdette, a 2008 graduate of New Life, stressed the importance of each student athlete taking ownership and taking pride in the activities and their school. He believes that is key to the students finding success on not just the playing field, but also in academics.
Burdette himself knows New Life well, playing quarterback for the Eagles during his time at the school. He comes to New Life after several years as an assistant football and basketball coach at Stanhope Elmore.
New Life competes in Division 2 of the Alabama Christian Athletic Association (ACAA). The football team competes in 8-man football. With approximately 220 students from K-12, competing in 8-man football is much more reasonable just from a numbers perspective.
The school is also competitive in girls’ and boys’ basketball, baseball and softball. Burdette is actually coaching the girls’ softball team this spring. Former softball coach Sharon Wilkes has agreed to provide her expertise in the dugout while Burdette leads the team.
Material for this article courtesy of Elmore Autauga News
PLES Delivers Valentines To Local Nursing Homes
Pine Level Elementary School’s Student Service Project to make and deliver Valentine cards to local nursing homes was a huge success! We collected more than 400 cards to drop off at local nursing homes.
Marbury Musicians Make All-State/All-District Honors
On January 29, thirteen musicians from Marbury Middle and High schools tried out for the Alabama All-State and All-District Band. Students had to perform musical scales, musical études, and sight read a piece of music for the audition process. Every student that auditioned that day either made All-State and/or All-District Band.
In addition to those 13 instrumental musicians from Marbury Middle/High School, Marbury High had its first-ever All-State musician selected to the All-State choir. Marbury had a 100% success rate on students auditioning.
All-State Choir is held in Birmingham and All-State Band is held in Mobile. This is the list of musicians selected from Marbury: Amelia Wells-All State Choir, Jada Hicks– All District & All State Flute, Mary Beth Hall– All District & All State Oboe, Sydney Cook– All District & All State Clarinet, Jamie Boyer-All District & All State Clarinet, Carlie Wingard– All District & All State Clarinet, Carter Ingram– All District & All State Alternate Alto Sax, Malik Johnson– All District Trumpet, Ava Larkin– All District & All State French Horn, Cadence Ewell– All District Baritone, Bethany Luster– All District Baritone, Adam Williamson– All District & All State Alternate Percussion, Madeline Moseley– All District Percussion and Eden Lynn Terry– All District Percussion.
Pine Level Pre-K Germs Science Experiment
One Pre-K class at Pine Level used lotion and glitter to show how easily germs can be spread. After students got all glittered up, they went on about their day as normal. As they touched playground equipment, their clothes, their water bottles, and even the soap dispenser, they were able to visually see how things are so easily spread when we touch them. In just a matter of minutes, it was evident that germs are everywhere, showing the importance of washing our hands.
PJHS Holds Career Day
Prattville Junior High School students participated in Career Day and were able to speak with representatives from community businesses and organizations.
Prattville Elementary Celebrates Valentine’s
Prattville Elementary Bobcats got creative as we celebrated Valentine’s Day! Students had the opportunity to make a Valentine’s Box for their Valentines.
Pine Level Visits STEAM Lab
Pine Level second-graders visited the STEAM Lab to practice the design process. Students were tasked with designing a functional mouse carrier based on Rob Scotton’s Splat the Cat.
ECTC Names Student of the Month
Michael from Holtville High School has been named the Elmore County Technical Center Student of the Month for January. He’s pictured with Career Technical Education Director Emilie Johnson and his Public Safety & Law program instructor, Chief Kelly Gordon.
PJHS Drama Classes Make Puppets
Mrs. Strickland’s drama classes at Prattvlle Junior High assembled creative puppetry projects.
College Student Pays Visit to ECTC Students
Natalie Harris, an education major at Huntingdon College, came to talk to Elmore County Technical Center Teaching 1 students. They learned about what is required for entry into the college of education, what to expect in their education classes, how to apply for grants and scholarships to help pay for their degrees, and more.
Pine Level Enjoys Clay Project
Second-graders at Pine Level worked hard to create “Modeling Clay Masterpieces” that showed their amazing art skills and their understanding of different emotions from our social emotional learning lesson.
Autauga Academy Senior Accepts Scholarship with Delta State University
Autauga Academy senior Anden Hilyer accepted a scholarship offer to Delta State University, joining eight other players who announced their intentions to continue playing collegiately on National Signing Day. Hilyer, the second leading tackler for the Generals this season, was recruited by Delta State to play linebacker.
“The Gulf South Conference is really good football,” his coach, Bobby Carr, said. “That’s a perfect fit for him. I kind of liked him on the offensive side because I’m an offensive guy, but the thing about him is he brings so much to the table it was a no brainer for them. He could, eventually, move to the offensive side of the ball.”
Hilyer was the second leading tackler on the defense this season with 85 tackles, including five for loss and three sacks, an impressive number considering he played sparingly in the second half of most games as the Generals built big leads by halftime. On offense, he had 25 receptions for 374 yards and six touchdowns.
Material for this article courtesy of Elmore Autauga News.
Eclectic Elementary Celebrates 100 Days
Eclectic Elementary School celebrated the 100th Day of School with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) activities. Students flew airplanes and rockets across 100 inches in the Library, made chain reactions with 100 dominos, used Play-doh to create 100, made glasses in the shape of 100, built structures with 100 Legos and more.
SEHS Lady Mustangs Soccer Wins Tournament
The Stanhope Elmore High School Lady Mustangs soccer team won four games in two days during the Capital of Dreams soccer tournament held in Montgomery. The Mustangs competed in the Classic Division, which featured SEHS, West Point High, Booker T. Washington, and Park Crossing. The Lady Mustangs took home the trophy for the Classic Division, and each player was given a medal with the tournament logo.
SEHS JV Boys placed second that day as well!
PJHS Classes Build STEM Towers
Ms. Martin’s STEM classes at Prattville Junior High used their skills and knowledge to build super-strong towers.
PJHS Theater Students at Mardi Gras
Way Off Broadway Theater students from Prattville Junior High School marched in the annual Mardi Gras parade.
ECTC Medical Sciences Student Training
Medical Sciences students at Elmore County Tech Center are training in Mental Health First Aid with Elmore County School-Based Mental Health Supervisor Rashawn Blassingame. Through this national program (that our students volunteered to take because of the needs they see in their own communities), participants are taught the skills to respond to the signs of mental illness and substance use.
