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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Students change classes at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Oct. 22.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Students change classes at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Oct. 22.
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Photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools.
The plaque from the U.S Department of Education naming HTHS an Exemplary High Performing School.
The year 2020 has proven difficult for millions of people, and it’s no different for Trussville City Schools personnel.
The COVID-19 pandemic abruptly forced students out of the classroom and into their homes in the spring, ending in-person instruction before spring break. Teachers scrambled to adjust their lessons for online delivery. Since this new school year began in August, the adjustments for students and teachers have continued.
It has been common for teachers to feel blue.
“I’d say that the abrupt ending of the school year, along with not being able to give a proper goodbye, is one of the worst parts of the quarantine,” Hewitt-Trussville High School history teacher Josh Haynes said in April.
But now, as 2020 nears its end, that dark blue feeling that has dominated for months seems a bit brighter.
Hewitt-Trussville High School was recently named a National Blue Ribbon School for 2020 by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. The school was recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School.
“This is just such a blessing, something that we all needed,” Haynes said. “It’s like winning a Super Bowl or the national championship in the educational world.”
In a Zoom call with Trussville City Schools Superintendent Pattie Neill and Hewitt-Trussville High School Principal Tim Salem, Salem said earning the National Blue Ribbon recognition doesn’t happen overnight.
“For this type of award, you can’t encapsulate one year into the work,” Salem said. “It’s really looking beyond a series of years and what you’ve built up and provided within a school. I know that given our challenges this year, and things aren’t what we’d like them to be, I think it is very uplifting because it kind of helps you remember everything that you have done in the past to reach this point.”
Neill commended all Hewitt-Trussville High School faculty, staff and students.
“I am so proud of everyone at HTHS for their high performance noted in this very competitive, national award,” she said. “This award affirms the upward trajectory of our achievement over the last few years. This award is based on the high performance and expertise of the HTHS principal, administrative team, and all faculty and staff. The achievement of our high school students represents hard work and dedication from their kindergarten through 12th grade experience. It also represents a high level of parent involvement with a caring focus on academics and attendance. Working together means winning together, and I’m grateful for this affirmation of everyone’s hard work from the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C.”
Altogether, 367 schools nationwide were recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2020. Hewitt-Trussville High School was chosen for being among Alabama’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Salem said work on the school’s application began in March. Twenty-two people from the high school and Central Office helped in developing the 19-page application. It included long summaries, data and curriculum-specific information.
“It is a highlight of my career, and I’m sure Mr. Salem’s career,” Neill said. “It’s usually a once-in-a-lifetime event, and I’m just thrilled to experience this with Hewitt-Trussville High School. It’s well-deserved.”
“Usually” is the key word Neill used. Hewitt-Trussville High School also was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1993 as an Exemplary High Performing School. A review of the National Blue Ribbon Schools historical database shows that only 16 other public schools — high, junior high, middle and elementary — from the state of Alabama have won the award twice. The program began in 1982 and the first awards were given in 1983. Among those high schools with two National Blue Ribbon recognitions are Bob Jones, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills and Davidson.
“I think it sets the expectation for a higher level of excellence,” Neill said. “We don’t want to rest on our laurels. We want to affirm our hard work and get a little bit better each year.”
The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony was held virtually Nov. 12-13. The high school received a plaque and blue flag to recognize the achievement.
“To me, it’s an affirmation of the way things used to be and the way things will be,” Neill said. “And that affirmation is for every faculty and staff member in grades K-12 because the high achievement at the high school starts in kindergarten. It’s something we can hold onto as we get back to normal, because the award represents what was normal and what will be normal. We’ll get back to it. This is an odd year, but a great year to be affirmed with a National Blue Ribbon Award.”
