By Laura McAlister
Journal Editor
There are three ingredients to a great school system, according to Dr. Jamie Blair, superintendent of Vestavia Hills public schools: great students, great parents and great teachers.
Those ingredients, Blair said, earned him the title of State Superintendent of the Year for 2011. Blair was chosen from eight finalists for the award, given by the School Superintendents of Alabama.
While he’s honored to receive the title, he said the award is one he shares with the system and the community.
“I am very flattered,” he said. “But at the same time, the superintendent is just a symbol out front. I couldn’t have done this without the whole team – teachers, students and parents.”
Blair joined the Vestavia Hills school system in 2000. At that time, student enrollment was about 4,500, and there were five schools. Now, the system has more than 6,500 students and nine schools.
Despite all the changes, the system has ranked at the top in the state throughout the 12 years Blair has been superintendent. He said the system has been able to achieve this by focusing on the individual student.
“This system has always been at the top, but the hardest thing about that is staying there,” he said. “We drill it down to the individual child. Our administrators do an excellent job of recruiting the best teachers and getting them professional development.”
Although school is out for the summer, Blair said faculty and staff members have been hard at work attending training and professional development conferences, many of which are given by the system’s faculty. Blair said teachers are encouraged but not required to attend the summer training.
“They’re giving up their summer to do this,” he said. “They are not forced. We’ve always put a big emphasis on professional development. That’s really where the rubber meets the road in the classroom.”
Although budget reductions are causing many Alabama school systems to cut teacher training as well as personnel, Blair said the impact should be minimal to Vestavia schools. That’s because of the support from the community through taxes as well as donations.
Vestavia schools receive much of their funding from local tax dollars, which Blair said helps keep class sizes smaller and technology and buildings up to date. Then there’s the Vestavia City Schools Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises money specifically for classroom needs in the system.
“Proration can’t touch those dollars. The federal government can’t touch those dollars,” he said. “They go directly to our kids. The foundation helps us tremendously.”
As the system gears up for the start of another school year, Blair said Vestavia Hills will again focus on staying at the top in the state. Thanks to parents and teachers, the superintendent believes it won’t be too difficult to continue the tradition.
“Students here know their parents value a good education,” he said. “And the administrators and the teachers make sure each student receives the best education based on their capabilities.”
