Vestavia Hills City Schools announced on Monday that five educators will be inducted into the Vestavia Hills City Schools Hall of Fame’s second class.
Inductees in the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021 are, in alphabetical order: the late Sammy Dunn, coach of the Vestavia Hills High School baseball team from 1978 to 2004; Barbara Grant, science teacher at Vestavia Hills Junior High and Louis Pizitz Middle School from 1968 to 1998; Michael Gross, principal of Vestavia Hills High School from 1985 to 1999; Rick McKay, teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary East and Vestavia Hills Elementary Central from 1980 to 2002; and John Rush, physical education teacher and coach at Louis Pizitz Middle School from 1981 to 2019.
Inductees were chosen from a field of nominees submitted earlier this year by alumni, faculty, staff and the community at large. More than 100 nominations were submitted for the 2021 class.
The Class of 2021 will be the second group of educators to be inducted into the Vestavia Hills City Schools Hall of Fame following a 2020 class, which included Buddy Anderson, Helen Holley, David Miles, Dr. Carlton Smith and Kay Tipton.
“The Hall of Fame Class of 2021 epitomizes the exceptional educators that are the trademark of Vestavia Hills City Schools,” said Superintendent Todd Freeman. “Their positive influence was transformational for the many students they taught as well as the colleagues they worked alongside.”
Inductees will be honored in a special ceremony open to the public, beginning at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at Vestavia Hills High School.
