Fowler named county Teacher of the Year

Story and Photos by Emily Kirby
[email protected]
The Jackson County Board of Education named Dewade Fowler its Teacher of the Year at its February 8, 2024 meeting.
Fowler began teaching at Dutton Elementary School in 1993, where he serves as a sixth through eighth-grade math teacher. Fowler attended Dutton Elementary as a student, and later Section High School. His credentials include Northeast Alabama Community College, Auburn University, Jacksonville State University, University of Alabama Birmingham, and Athens State University.
Superintendent Jason Davidson said many teachers were submitted for the recognition, but the proof was in the data when it came to choosing Fowler.
“When I think of our strongest academic teachers that have the data to back it up, and have a reputation of performing at a high level of expectations, you always know Mr. Dewade Fowler is tied to that school for their performance,” he said.
SCOUT Update
During the work session prior to the board meeting, Chris Clark, of SCOUT Program Management, gave an update on the Kevin Dukes Career and Innovation Academy.
The construction cost for the new center totaled $3.4 million, with just over 145,000 square footage. Clark said there was a recent, productive meeting with the contractor, assuring the board that the main “punch list” items should be completed within two weeks of the board meeting, leaving warranty items to be dealt with over the next six to 12 months.
Woodville High School
WHS Principal Layton Holman discussed the school’s improvements, citing their recent recognition from the state board of education for being among the top 25 schools for growth in the state with a 12-point increase on their school report card.
Holman said the school has also recently seen improvements in its sports teams, safety of facilities, increase in enrollment, decrease in discipline, financials through fundraising and paying off accounts.
Federal Programs & District update
Jonathan Colvin, Federal Programs and Instructional Supervisor with JCBOE, updated the board on the county’s federal programs and the state report card. Jackson County scored 88 and ranked 39th out of all districts and 9 out of all county districts, 8th out of all county districts, 21st out of 148 districts in college and career readiness, and 24th out of 148 districts in graduation rates. Colvin said the district needs the most improvement in academic achievement.
The board also approved the following items on the agenda:
General Business

• minutes from the January 3, 2024 board meeting.
• financial statements and list of reconciled bank accounts for October 2023. The total payroll expenditures were $4,419,355.06 and the total non-payroll expenditures were $1,317,199.60.
• financial statements and list of reconciled bank accounts for November 2023. The total payroll expenditures were $4,483,866.33 and the total non-payroll expenditures were $1,569,521.44.
• Microsoft licensing annual renewal from Dell in the amount of $32,466.60 (per ALJP2022-168).
• purchase of a 2023 Kenworth Tri-Axle Dump Truck in the amount of $235,000.00.
• contract between the JCBOE and Journey Consulting, LLC for Psychometrist services.
• contract between the JCBOE and Floyd McKenzie to provide bus driving services.
• contract between the JCBOE and Woodville High School to provide bus transportation assistance for a Woodville student.
  Personnel
• extend a family medical leave for Leonda Guerin through February 16, 2024.
• leave of absence for Leonda Guerin from February 19, 2024, through May 24, 2024.
• family medical leave for Shonna West from February 9, 2024, through March 8, 2024.
• family medical leave for Ashlee Hastings from January 25, 2024, through April 1, 2024.
• family medical leave for Amy Byrd from February 1, through May 1, 2024.
• resignation of Destiny Justice as a county-wide instructional aide, effective January 2, 2024.
• retirement of Bobbie Snyder, a CNP worker at Stevenson Elementary School, effective March 1, 2024.
• retirement of Ray West, an 8-hour custodian at Woodville High School, effective March 1, 2024.
• retirement of Gary Poe, an 8-hour custodian at Stevenson Elementary School, effective March 1, 2024.
• transfer Robin Jordan from a county-wide special services aide/nurse to a county-wide itinerant nurse, effective January 18, 2024.
• transfer Shalyn Smith from a county-wide Indian education aide to a 50% teacher at Bryant/50% county-wide Indian education aide, effective January 2, 2024.
• transfer Terry Williamson from a teacher at Stevenson Middle School to a teacher at Macedonia School, effective February 9, 2024.
• transfer Felicia Heard from a 50% special education teacher at Rosalie/50% special education teacher at North Sand Mountain High School to a 50% special education teacher at Rosalie School/50% special education teacher at Bryant School, effective February 12, 2024.
• transfer Chante Starkey from a special education teacher at Pisgah to a special education program specialist, effective February 12, 2024.
• employ Kelly Little as the 21st CCLC program site manager, effective January 3, 2024.
• employ Dala Watson as a county-wide school bus driver (initially located at Woodville High School), effective February 9, 2024.
• employ Hailey King as a county-wide speech-language pathologist, effective February 9, 2024.
• employ Haley Garner as a teacher at Stevenson Middle School, effective February 12, 2024.
• employ Kim Fletcher as a Pre-K auxiliary aide at Stevenson Elementary School, effective February 9, 2024.
• employ Ronnie Perkins as an 8-hour custodian at Woodville High School, effective March 1, 2024.
• employ Breanna Smith as a county-wide special education aide (initially located at Woodville High School), pending background clearance, effective February 9, 2024.
• employ Jodie Barton as a special education teacher at Pisgah High School, effective February 12, 2024.
  Coaching Personnel
• resignation of David Towery as head baseball coach at Skyline High School.
• Charles Manning as head baseball coach at Skyline High School.
• Joni Marsh as an assistant softball coach at Woodville High School.
• an additional supplement of $1,500 for Austin Pankey (to be paid with school funds-football) for Woodville High School.
• Kevin Smith as assistant varsity baseball coach at North Jackson High School.
• Jason Johnson as middle school baseball coach at North Jackson High School.
• Brandon Wilson as assistant middle school baseball coach at North Jackson High School.
• Destiny Justice as assistant golf coach at North Jackson High School.
• the following coaching assignments for Section High School (Board President Chad Gorham abstained from voting.)

1. Michael Bolt – baseball
2. Brett Haynes – baseball
3. Jeremy Luse – baseball
4. Travis Genry – softball
5. Caleb Haynes – track
6. Mallori Gorham – track
7. Jessica Varner – golf
8. Whitney Furgerson – golf

• the following coaching assignments for Pisgah High School

1. Gus Hembree – head track coach
2. Robert Gibson – assistant track coach
3. Labron Anderton – golf
4. Davey Arnold – volunteer baseball
5. Dewayne Bell – volunteer baseball
6. JC Martin – volunteer baseball
7. Ryan Evans – volunteer baseball
8. Craig Smith – volunteer baseball
9. Lowell Barron – volunteer softball
10. Paige Darwin – volunteer softball (pending background clearance)
11. Chrystal Heard – softball
12. Carey Ellison – softball

• the following coaching assignments for North Sand Mountain High School

1. Matthew Ogle – assistant baseball (replacing Nelson Poore)
2. Pierce Porter – assistant track