So much to celebrate at Brighton! This morning, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders who earned 3s and 4s on the ACAP were honored during an award ceremony! We had so much fun celebrating their hard work!
Thank you to guest speaker Ms. Margaret Beard for encouraging our students and presenting them with gifts! What a special day!🐻❤️
We congratulate all of our JEFCOED students and teachers for their success during testing! Your dedication inspires us!
24 days ago, JEFCOED
A woman hands an award certificate to a little girl
A little boy smiles while holding an award certificate
A little girl stands and hugs a woman who is sitting down
Three women stand together on a stage and smile
A girl and a man stand together and smile. The little girl is holding an award.
A little boy hugs a woman
A woman and a little boy stand together and smile. The little boy holds an award
A woman and a little boy hug
A man and a little girl hug while standing in a school gym.
A boy stands on a stage and smiles while holding an award.
It’s National Dog Day, and we’re celebrating one of our favorite pups, Dude!🐕‍🦺❤️
Dude is enjoying his fourth year as a therapy dog at Grantswood Community School! Grantswood’s counselor, Cricket Miller, tells us students look forward to his visits each Friday! From increasing attendance and GREAT behavior, to decreasing fear and anxiety, Cricket says Dude is a huge asset to GCS! We appreciate all Dude does for our JEFCOED family!
26 days ago, JEFCOED
Students and a counselor stand next to a therapy dog in a classroom. Some of the students hug the dog.
A student lays their head on a therapy dog
A therapy dog sleeps on a couch.
Outdoor learning AND feathered friends? That’s a win-win! We’re so 'clucky'🐓 to have chicken coops at several of our schools, including Bryan Elementary! Our students are learning new skills while also making unforgettable memories!🐔💙
This makes us JEFCOED Proud!
26 days ago, JEFCOED
Students stand and sit around an outdoor chicken coop.
Students sit and lay on grass surround a chicken coop.
Students stand and sit outside a chicken coop.
Students stand and sit on grass outside a chicken coop.
students hold clip boards while sitting on grass outside a chicken coop.
Adamsville Elementary School moms kicked off Friday morning carline with PAW-some energy! 🐾💜 From the bus ramp to the car line, students were greeted with warm smiles, high-fives, and plenty of encouragement to kick off the day in the best way. A heartfelt THANK YOU to every amazing woman who showed up to make a difference!!
30 days ago, JEFCOED
A parent and a student smile at the camera during morning car line drop off at a school.
A woman helps a student get out of a vehicle in car line at school.
A student and a parent smile for the camera. The student his holding up peace signs.
Moms of Adamsville Elementary pose for a picture outside of the school after greeting students in car line.
A woman greets students as they exit a school bus in the morning.
A student receives a big hug upon arrival to school.
Two students exit a car during morning car line at school.
JEFCOED knows how to do a pep rally right! Hueytown High School brought the energy this afternoon!🎉🏈
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
Band students stand in the bleachers at a gym and play instruments
Band students play instruments inside a gym
Students scream while sitting and standing in bleachers.
Students scream and jump around while standing in a gym
A group of students sit and stand in the bleachers of a gym.
A student stands in a school gym and smiles while holding drum sticks
Students in Mrs. Riley’s class at Grantswood participated in their first mad science experiment last week! They learned all about germs!🦠🧑‍🔬We love seeing lessons brought to life through experiments, and look forward to what these mad scientists in training will accomplish!🤩
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
Students wearing lab coats sit on the floor of a classroom. Each student has a tray with a paper plate on it sitting in front of them.
Check it out! We’re starting to see some of the first positive office referrals of the school year!👏📚
Addison from Snow Rogers Elementary School was recognized for showing responsibility!
For exhibiting this SNOW Expectation, Addison became the first student to receive a book from the vending machine! Way to go!🎉📖
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
A girl holds a certificate and a book while smiling
A girl smiles while holding a book and standing in front of a book vending machine
There aren’t enough words to describe the impact Darryl Walker has made in his more than 40 years of working for the Jefferson County School District! We congratulate Darryl on his retirement, but will miss him dearly!💙
Darryl began working for JEFCOED right after graduating from Shades Valley High School and has dedicated countless hours to improving the lives of students and employees at our district. Darryl's hard work and genuine kindness truly inspire us all. Congratulations on your retirement, Darryl!
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
A woman and man smile and stand together for a photo. They're standing in front of a sign that says "Happy Retirement."
Two men and two women smile and stand together for a photo. They stand in front of a banner with balloons on it.
Two men stand together in front of a banner with balloons on it and smile. One of the men wears a sash that says "retired"
Three men and two women stand together for a photo and smile. They're standing in front of a balloons shaped like the number 40.
A little boy with frosting on his face eats cake.
A man and a woman stand together and smile at the camera.
Planting the seeds of success at Irondale Community School!🌱
We’re so grateful to the Jefferson County Personnel Board’s Community Servant Leadership class for not only building raised garden beds at Irondale Community, but for returning today to plant seeds with students! They’ll now be able to watch the very seeds they planted grow into vegetables right outside their classrooms! How awesome is that?!
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
Adults and children plant seeds in a garden bed outside a school
Adults and children plant seeds in a garden bed outside a school
Happy retirement🎉 to our dear friend and colleague Dr. Terrence Brown! When we think of Dr. Brown, his welcoming smile, infectious laugh, and vivacious spirit immediately come to mind. Throughout his 27-year tenure with Jefferson County, he has poured his heart into our schools as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and finally as Director of Arts Education.
You could not hope for a more spirited and passionate person to lead students through the world of the arts. With Dr. Brown, every day brings a new idea and inspiration for making arts education a rich experience for all.
While Dr. Brown will be dearly missed, we are excited for him to share his gifts with a larger community. We wish you well, Dr. Brown!! 💙
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
Dr. Terrence Brown
Members of the Jefferson County Schools' Arts Education Department
Shelly Bailey and Dr. Terrence Brown are laughing and smiling in front of the JEFCOED art truck.
The Shades Valley High School choir stands outside the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL.
Dr. Terrence Brown poses with two staff members on "Go Gold" day. Promoting childhood cancer awareness.
A group of leaders for Jefferson County Schools cuts the ribbon outside the new mobile art truck.
Yearbook photo of Dr. Terrence Brown from 2012.
Dr. Terrence Brown is being filmed while reading a book in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL.
Dr. Terrence Brown reads a book.
Leaders on and off the football field!🏈👏 This weekend, Hueytown High School’s football team and staff members participated in the Valley Creek Fall Cleanup. The team, along with other community volunteers, removed trash from roads and waterways. We’re so proud of our Golden Gophers for their hard work!
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
A group of football players wearing matching shirts stand next to coaching staff in front of Hueytown High School
A group of football players wearing matching shirts hold trash bags and pickup trash alongside a road. A police officer stands in the middle of the road, directing traffic.
The Minor Feeder Pattern knows how to throw a Back-to-School Bash!💜🐅
We want to give a huge thank you to everyone who participated in this weekend’s event, along with our incredible employees and volunteers who made it possible!
Students and their families enjoyed face painting, performances, games, haircuts and so much more! What a special and memorable start to the school year!📚
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
Two girls wearing face paint hug each other and smile
Three children sit in salon chairs while they get their hair cut
An adult and child sit on chairs outside in a grassy field. The adult paints the child's face.
Four people stand outside and smile. One of them, a woman, holds a baby.
Cheerleaders wearing purple shirts and black shorts hold one pom pom in the air, and the other on their hip as they perform a cheer on a grassy field outside.
A young woman and a girl hug each other and smile.
A drum major leads a marching band through a parking lot
Cheerleaders stand in a grassy field, performing a stunt. Several stunt groups hold cheerleaders in the air.
A group of adults and a child smile at the camera while standing in front of a photo backdrop set up on grass.
We had a very special guest at Brighton School this morning! 📚🏫
Katie Collins, Alabama’s Teacher of the Year, brought the sunshine on this cloudy day!☀️🤗 Mrs. Collins got to know our students and teachers at Brighton, and even surprised them with some goodies!
We’re so grateful she stopped by, and wish her the best as she continues serving as an ambassador for public education!
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
A woman stands in a classroom full of children and smiles while hugging a child.
Two women hug while standing in a classroom. Another woman walks behind them.
A woman sits in a chair and smiles while facing several children who sit on the floor of a classroom.
Two women stand next to a cart with goodie bags on it. The two women face each other, talking.
Three women stand behind a cart with goodie bags on it.
Royalty at its finest!👑 Minor Community School rolled out the purple carpet, welcoming students back to school! Students were able to take pictures with their principal, teachers, and staff.
Superintendent Dr. Gonsoulin also stopped by and gave a little pep talk and some high-fives, wishing them a safe and successful school year.🌟🏫🎒
about 2 months ago, JEFCOED
An adult stands in a school hallway and gives a high-five to a student.
A man and two children hug and pose for a photo in a school hallway.
A man wearing a suit stands in a school gym and gives a student a high-five
Two adults and three children pose for a picture while standing in a school hallway.
A man and two children smile and pose in front of a photo backdrop set up in a school hallway.
First day excitement at Minor High School!🎉 Dr. Gonsoulin and volunteers started the year off with encouragement by greeting students this morning!📚
about 2 months ago, JEFCOED
High school students walk on a sidewalk while adults hold school related signs and smile
Students walk on a sidewalk after getting off a bus. They're surrounded by adults holding encouraging, school-related signs.
Students walk on a sidewalk after getting off a bus. Adults stand next to them, greeting the students with smiles and school-related signs.
Students walk on a sidewalk after getting off a bus. They're surrounded by adults who are holding signs.

High-fives on the first day!✋🥰 What an entrance! Teachers, administrators, and community volunteers helped Center Point Elementary start the year on a great note! These little eagles are soaring 🦅 through day one!👏

about 2 months ago, JEFCOED
An adult gives a young student a high-five as she walks on a sidewalk. Another adult and a child stand in the background.
Two young girls stand together and smile
A little girl wearing a backpack smiles while walking on a sidewalk. In the background, a man greets a young boy. Behind them are school buses and cars in a parking lot.
Two women walk a young child into a school gymnasium
How cool is this?!🎭
We're so proud of JEFCOED theatre directors, Ms. Taylor Chatman (Pleasant Grove High School) and Mr. Carl Dean (Shades Valley High School), for starring in local musicals!👏
Ms. Chatman played the role of Alice in "Big River," and Mr. Dean is playing Earl in "Waitress". It's wonderful to see our talented educators shine on stage!
about 2 months ago, JEFCOED
Three people stand on a stage and sing
A man and a woman stand on a stage and talk to each other. Two people sit at a table in the background behind the man and woman. The set is designed to look like a diner.
Our Back to School Conference is in the books!📚 We want to give a huge thank you to our educators and administrators for making today such a success! You are laying the foundation for a wonderful school year, and it’s clear that “Alabama has something to say!” We can’t wait to see our classrooms filled up again in just a few short days!
about 2 months ago, JEFCOED
A group of people stand in a room and talk to each other.
A man and a woman stand together and smile
A large group of people sit in an auditorium
A man stands on a stage and talks
Our JEFCOED teachers stepped right up and went "under the big top" for this year's 2025 PowerEDUp! Instructional Technology Conference! 🎪🍿
From interactive workshops that felt like exhilarating rides, to hands-on experiences in the "carnival" playground, it was a fantastic day of learning, collaboration, and fun. Our educators left with a carousel of new strategies and tools to bring their classrooms to life!
A massive thank you to everyone who made this year's conference a success!🎉
about 2 months ago, JEFCOED
Two women stand in front of a circus themed photo backdrop. The women hold photo props over their faces.
A group of women stand in front of a circus photo backdrop and smile.
Three woman stand next to a board in front of a classroom.
A group of people listen to a man give a presentation inside a classroom.
New Teacher Orientation ✏️📘👏 We're so excited to greet our new educators and officially bring them into the JEFCOED family! You're joining a district committed to Inspiring Change and Creating Impact, one student at a time. We're so glad you're here!

Special thanks to Leslie Chatta and Shernell Lewis, our 2025-2026 Teachers of the Year, for sharing powerful words of encouragement and inspiration. We're also grateful to Gardendale High School, along with our many staff and volunteers who helped make the day such a success!
about 2 months ago, JEFCOED
School employees greeting educators at a registration desk.
Jefferson County School District drawstring bag on a registration table
Teachers signing in at a registration table for New Teacher Orientation.
Two school leaders smiling for the camera.
Two educators giving each other a hug across the shoulders.
Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin speaking on stage during New Teacher Orientation.
Teachers walking and visiting in a hallway.
Shernell Lewis holding a microphone and presenting onstage.
Leslie Chatta holding a microphone and presenting on stage.
Leslie Chatta and Shernell Lewis posing for a picture with greenery behind them.