JEFCOED Journal September 5, 2024
Superintendent's Message
Hello JEFCOED Family,
I will get to the news of our district in a moment. First, I want to express our district’s deepest sympathies to families who lost a loved one in yesterday’s act of violence at Apalachee High School. They are in my prayers, as are those who were injured. I hope you will join me in lifting them up. We stand with our neighbors to the east in Winder, Georgia.
Here in Jefferson County, we have been very busy during the first few weeks of school. Progress reports go home on Friday. Parents, I say it every year, but it’s worth repeating. We want you to be a partner in your student’s education. If you have a question, please don’t ever hesitate to reach out directly to your child’s teacher through Parent Square. We are all here to serve in the best interest of our students and to make sure they are successful. We can only do that when everyone is working together.
I want to address something that you might have seen in the news recently. There were a couple of articles written saying we had upwards of 20 million dollars left of Covid Relief money that has to be spent by September 30th. That is not accurate.
After we saw those stories, I made some calls and it looks like the data has not been updated on the state department’s website. All of our money for the last round of Covid Relief (Esser III) has been spent or is in the process of being spent. I personally feel that our school district has been a very good steward of these funds and has made decisions in the best interest of our students.
I am continuing to visit all the schools in our district. As you can imagine, with close to 60 campuses, it takes some time for me to work my way through the county. However, I will say there are some common themes that I keep seeing. Students are engaged and excited about learning. Teachers are passionate about making sure every student is successful in their classroom and are working countless hours in the process. Administrators are doing everything they can to create a conducive learning environment on campus and ensure student success.
All the best,
Dr. Gonsoulin
We are proud to announce that Jefferson County Schools has been recognized as a Project Adam Heart Safe School District by Children's of Alabama! This distinction reflects our commitment to the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and visitors.
Our district earned this recognition by establishing and maintaining a comprehensive cardiac emergency response plan. With 147 AEDs (automated external defibrillators) across 57 campuses, well-trained staff, and a dedicated Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT), we have the knowledge, ability, and resources to respond to sudden medical emergencies. Our goal is to help save lives.
This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire community. Thank you to everyone involved in making this possible!
Dr. Walter Gonsoulin, was honored with the Visionary Leadership Award at the Alabama Cognia IMPACT Conference in Montgomery. The award was presented by Governor Kay Ivey, alongside Alabama State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey, highlighting Dr. Gonsoulin's outstanding contributions to education in our state.
"A visionary leader is only as strong as those around him. In the case of superintendents, we must have a school board that is collaborative, flexible, and trusting. If not, the vision will be crushed. I want to thank the board members of Jefferson County Schools for their guidance but also, for giving me the latitude to lead," said Gonsoulin, during his acceptance speech. "Thank you to the men and women I work with everyday to ensure the children of Jefferson County Schools receive a quality education. This award is for all of us: our executive team, our administrators, our teachers, and our support staff."
We are incredibly proud of Dr. Gonsoulin and grateful for his dedication to maximizing opportunities for all students and staff within our district. This recognition is a sign of his exceptional leadership and the positive impact he continues to make in our community.
Jefferson County Schools has launched the new electronic flyer communication tool called “Peachjar.” To view school-approved eflyers, simply click the Peachjar button on your school’s website.
Schools will also begin emailing electronic flyers during September. If your school was already doing other communications - Newsletters, phone calls, etc - those will continue. This new tool is not to replace any existing communication efforts. Instead, it’s another layer of communication that our schools will use to keep parents informed.
This “green" initiative will save our schools tons of paper and reduce copy costs by thousands of dollars. On top of that, posting school flyers in this electronic backpack reduces clutter and will help parents keep track of school events.
No action is required on your part. Parents should have received a welcome email from Peachjar which includes a login link. This is provided to give you the opportunity to manage your account and flyer delivery preferences. You do not need to login to receive or view school eflyers.
To ensure smooth delivery of this communication, we suggest you add school@peachjar.com to your email contacts. When you receive your first eflyer, be sure to click “always display images.”
Dads on Duty
A huge thank you to all the amazing dads, grandpas, uncles, and male role models who came out to Clay Elementary’s first Dads on Duty event!! Your smiles, high-fives, and positive messages are exactly what our students and staff need. Your presence makes a difference! Let’s keep this energy going throughout the school year!
Bright in Brighton ACAP Celebration
Brighton School knows the importance of recognizing the leaders who go above and beyond to support their students and staff. Earlier this week, during their ACAP Celebration, Brighton honored several district leaders who have made a lasting impact.
First, they celebrated Ms. Margaret Beard, a longtime member of the JEFCOED family and the event's keynote speaker. With an incredible 51 years and 10 months of service to JEFCOED, Ms. Beard continues to dedicate her time in retirement to supporting the students and staff at Brighton. Whenever the school calls, she's there to lend a hand!
Brighton School also took a moment to recognize Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin and Area Director Angela Bush for their daily support. Each leader received a 'Bright in Brighton' certificate and heartfelt words of thanks!
Dads and Decals
More than football, this event was about fellowship and community. The head football coach at Pleasant Grove High School, Darrell LeBeaux, shared a special moment where male role models in the community came together to put new decals on the Spartan helmets. This was the first year for the event and it was a great success! A huge thank you to these individuals and the PGHS coaching staff for their commitment to our student-athletes and schools.
Six Houses, One Family!
August 16th was a special day at Hueytown Intermediate School — It was House Sorting Day! Each year, students new to HIS are sorted into one of six houses, each symbolizing core character traits and values. These six houses unite to form one big family where everyone works together, earning reward points for displaying good character and cheering each other on.
And it's not just the students who get in on the fun; the entire faculty, staff, and even the SRO join the excitement. The competition is friendly, but the impact is real!! The house system has fostered an environment where character, relationships, and school spirit thrive.
