UA Partners with Schools to Announce Graduates of Parent Leadership Academy

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Tuscaloosa Parent Leadership Academy, a partnership between The University of Alabama and Tuscaloosa City and County Schools, will have a graduation dinner and ceremony for its second class Tuesday, May 5, at 5:30 p.m. in the Bryant Conference Center Rast Room.

Featured speaker will be Dr. Tommy Bice, deputy state superintendent of education for instructional services. Bice is responsible for curriculum and instruction, assessment and accountability, federal programs, the Alabama Reading Initiative, the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative, and several other areas.

PLA is a two-semester program that strengthens relationships among family, schools and community. Participants meet monthly. Led by UA faculty and other educators, participants develop leadership skills, improve their ability to support their child at home and at school, and establish better relations among their family, school and board of education.

“Parents who graduate from PLA increase their knowledge of the entire education process, from classroom instruction and discipline to outside learning. They become contributing partners with local schools and school boards in their children’s learning,” said Christopher H. Spencer, associate director of the UA Center for Community-Based Partnerships as well as chief organizer for this year’s PLA.

“Many of the graduates are already active in their schools and we expect others to join them because of their new experience,” said Dr. Samory T. Pruitt, vice president for community affairs at UA. “Through this academy, which approximates graduate-level instruction for lay persons, they are acquiring competencies and learning strategies that will make them better parents and a valued resource in helping their children and the schools they attend meet today’s challenges.”

This year’s class was drawn from 10 elementary schools from each school system.

Graduates include:

Tuscaloosa City Schools

Rajuan Sherman, Alberta Elementary

Marilou Baker and Aaron Kuntz, Arcadia Elementary

Audrey Wilson Cottrell and Jackie Lanier, Central Primary

Sharon Long, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary

Sharon Archibald and Emma Williams, Northington Elementary

Camille Page and Monique Petty, Oakdale Primary

Cindy Bramble and Jackie Kuehn, Rock Quarry Elementary

Tanika Bizzell and Tiffany Jenkins-Green, Skyland Elementary

Brenda Lewis and Sharon Smothers, University Place Elementary

Mary Hanks and Sabrina Sentell, Woodland Forrest Elementary

Tuscaloosa County Schools

Rhonda Goins and Tanya Stark, Buhl Elementary

Allison Duncan and LaDonna Youngblood, Cottondale Elementary

Maribelle Magana, Crestmont Elementary

Phillip Booth and Errica Walker, Faucett-Vestavia Elementary

Betsy Williamson and Brandi Wolfe, Flatwoods Elementary

Nikki Anthony and Jamie Wright, Holt Elementary

Kelly Hayes, Lake View Elementary

Georgette Miniard and Tracie Thomas, Matthews Elementary

Shannon James and Paula Sisk, Maxwell Elementary

Angela Ashcraft and Angela Campo, Taylorville Elementary