By Rubin E. Grant
Dr. Dicky Barlow had to drive back from a funeral in Atlanta last Friday before he could do an interview with a reporter.
It had been a busy week for the Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent with meetings and whatnot.
Among Barlow’s activities was receiving a prestigious award. On Wednesday, School Superintendents of Alabama and Schneider Electric named Barlow the 2023 Alabama Superintendent of the Year. He had been selected as one of nine finalists in September.
“It was a surprise,” Barlow said. “I had gone to a state conference the past week to be interviewed along with the other finalists. It was the first time I had ever been nominated.
“This is a tremendous honor and would not be possible without the work of all of our teachers, staff members, students and incredible family and community members.”
Barlow represented District 5, which comprises 16 school districts in the central Alabama region.
“I have met a lot of the superintendents across the state,” Barlow said. “They take the job seriously and love kids. I represent them and District 5.”
After being chosen, Barlow was called up to give a brief acceptance speech.
“They told me don’t go long,” Barlow said with a laugh.
Two days later, he said, “The title of Superintendent of the Year is a misnomer. It’s really the same as a team sport. I work with really phenomenal people and the only way I get this award is because of them.
“After the announcement, I texted some members of our district leadership team and told them, ‘We won.’ It’s quite an honor, but it’s more than Dicky Barlow.”
Former Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Mason also won the award in 2004. He paid tribute to Barlow.
“I cannot imagine a better choice than Dr. Dicky Barlow to represent Alabama School Superintendents as their Superintendent of the Year for 2023,” Mason said. “During his tenure in Mountain Brook Schools, Dr. Barlow has secured the financial status of the school system through a successful tax vote by the citizens, embarked on a much-needed expansion and renovation of facilities, and navigated the unprecedented challenges facing superintendents during the COVID pandemic.
“His commitment to the well-being and academic success of students, his commitment to ongoing professional learning for all teachers and staff, and his basic goodness as a person are among the many reasons the Mountain Brook community is so fortunate to have him as the leader of their school system.”
Dr. Stephen Russell, a pediatrician who has three children in Mountain Brook schools and another who graduated in 2021, is a friend of Barlow’s. He also sang his praises.
“As an administrator, he’s done a remarkable job negotiating all the changes in education and managing the COVID pandemic,” Russell said. “One of the biggest things he’s done is making a capital investment in improving the school facilities. He was able to see the benefits of it because it was long overdue.
“As a person, he’s always focused on doing the right thing. He’s man of integrity and he’s consistent, and he’s always doing things in the best interests of others. He’s a great role model, a beacon for others to follow.
“I am not surprised he was named superintendent of the year. I’m thrilled for him, being recognized for the great job he’s doing.”
The Alabama Superintendent of the Year competes to become one of four nationwide finalists; represents Alabama at the AASA’s National Conference on Education in February; and is honored at a luncheon during the SSA Legislative Conference in Montgomery, according to the SSA website. Schneider Electric provides the winner with a Superintendent of the Year ring and travel expenses to the national conference.
Barlow has been Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent since 2009. Before that, he was principal of Mountain Brook High School from 2001 to 2009 and assistant principal from 1996 to 2001. Before coming to Mountain Brook Schools, Barlow served in a number of positions as an educator in Georgia, including assistant principal and student intervention specialist. He taught science and coached basketball and cross-country.
Schools Have Changed
He has seen numerous changes in education in that time, and perhaps the greatest is the demand on teachers and administrators.
“If you take COVID out the of the equation, schools are so much more involved in the lives of their students and asked to do so much more,” Barlow said. “A long time ago, summers were a lot slower and you got a chance to get reinvigorated, but now summers are busier than ever. We do a lot of training with our teachers and other things over the summer.
“It’s all-encompassing, but I wouldn’t want to do it in a different community or different school system.”
Barlow also is enjoying not having to make adjustments to the school schedule because of COVID.
“The COVID years were super difficult, perhaps the most difficult in the history of our school system,” Barlow said. “I think our teachers and administrators did a great job of caring for people and our students. But for 2½ to 3 years, it was draining.
“This year has been a dream. It feels like for the first time in three years that things are normal, whatever normal is. The teachers can focus on learning and the administrators can focus on helping them.”
