✨Shining Through the Season!✨

It’s an honor to celebrate our JEFCOED Family members who shine brightly throughout the school year! We want to congratulate all of our JEFCOED Strong Award winners from the second nine weeks and give an extra special congratulations to Ms. Erin Baxter from Irondale Middle School and Ms. Sara Vanderver from Oak Grove High School! Among our Strong Award winners, these two outstanding educators won our district-wide drawing for gift cards!

Please help us celebrate Ms. Baxter and Ms. Vanderver, along with each of our Strong Award winners! These educators make our district a special place!💙
4 months ago, JEFCOED
Irondale Middle School principal Mr. Marvin Carter stands next to Ms. Erin Baxter inside her classroom. They smile and hold a JEFCOED Strong Award. The award has Ms. Baxter's name and school on it, along with the JEFCOED Strong Award logo and text at the bottom.
Irondale Middle School principal Mr. Marvin Carter and teacher Ms. Erin Baxter stand with seven students and pose for a photo inside Ms. Baxter's classroom. Ms. Baxter holds a JEFCOED Strong Award in her hands.
Ms. Sara Vanderver smiles and holds a JEFCOED Strong Award in her hand while standing inside a building. She stands in front of a small couch and a motivational poster of a kitten looking into a puddle and seeing a tiger. Text on the poster says "Mindset is Everything."
Sara Vanderver holds a JEFCOED Strong Award in her hand as she hugs Oak Grove High School Assistant Principal, Kristin Pederson. The two stand in a building in front of a wall, couch and motivational poster.
Way to go, Kylie!🌹🎉 Gardendale High School senior and color guard member Kylie Thompson did a wonderful job performing in the 2026 Rose Parade with the Bands of America Honor Band!

Kylie was one of only five members from Alabama selected to perform with the group, and represented our state and district beautifully! Please help us congratulate Kylie on her hard work and fantastic performance!
4 months ago, JEFCOED
Gardendale High School student Kylie Thompson smiles while holding a flag and performing with a band on a football field.
Gardendale High School student Kylie Thompson holds a flag and smiles while standing on a track. She wears a long blue dress with sparkles on the top.
Gardendale High School student Kylie Thompson smiles while holding a flag and performing with a band on a football field.
It's School Board Recognition Month! 🍎 Please join us in honoring our board members for their commitment to students, service to our community, and championship-level leadership. We simply could not achieve what we do without your support!
4 months ago, JEFCOED
Graphic thanking the Jefferson County Schools' School Board. Pictured are Ronnie Dixion, Board President, Stephanie Floyd, Board Vice President, Carita Venable, Board Member, Walter Curry, Board Member, and Glenn Durough, Board Member. The text in the middle says, "Thank You JEFCOED School Board"
Great to see members of the JEFCOED Retirees Association at the Board of Education this morning! Thank you for your continued support of our schools, staff, and students. Once JEFCOED, always JEFCOED!💙 #ThankYou #SupportingSchools
4 months ago, JEFCOED
Members or the Jefferson County Education Retiree Association stand together smiling for a group photo.
JEFCOED Family, we hope you had a restful and fun break! We look forward to seeing students back in the classroom tomorrow, Tuesday, January 6, 2026!
4 months ago, JEFCOED
Image is a graphic with text over a blue, dark blue and white background. Text says "SEE YOU TOMORROW, JEFCOED FAMILY! WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING STUDENTS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026 Let's Get Ready for a Fantastic Second Semester!" Under that is the Jefferson County Schools logo and text that says #InspiringChangeCreatingImpact
Happy New Year, JEFCOED Family!💙🎉 We thank you all for making 2025 so special! As we take on 2026, let’s continue striving for success, encouraging one another, and accomplishing big goals! We have a wonderful new year ahead of us, thanks to all of you!
4 months ago, JEFCOED
Image is a collage with several pictures on it. From right to left on top are photos of two little girls hugging while on a playground. The next photo is of a student wearing a life jacket and smiling. The next one is of JEFCOED Superintentendent Dr. Gonsoulin talking to a classroom of students. On the next row is a photo of three young students standing together in a school gym hugging. One is playing a hand-made pan flute. The next photo is a CCHS color guard member spinning a flag on the football field. The next is of Oak Grove students smiling and hugging at a pep rally. The next row has an image of three students standing and smiling at a bowling alley. The next photo is of Rudd Middle School's principal posing with a student carrying an award. The final photo is of an adult dressed like a sports official posing next to students dressed like athletes.
Our students are making the world a brighter place!✨🐻

Brighton School’s first semester Peer Helper Service project was an incredible success!❤️ Students raised money to purchase food for families, and as you can see, were able to put together many bags for those in need.

We’re so proud of these students for their hard work! Way to go, Peer Helpers!👏
4 months ago, JEFCOED
Brighton School Peer Helpers stand together for a photo in a lunchroom. They stand behind lunch room tables with bags on them.
Brighton School Peer Helpers stand in a line in a lunchroom and put food items into bags.
Brighton School Peer Helpers stand in a line in a lunchroom and put food items into bags.
A Brighton School peer helper stands in a lunch room and places food items into bags.
These photos warm our hearts!💙 After writing to each other all semester, Ms. Watson’s 2nd grade class at Clay Elementary and Ms. Lopresti’s class at CCHS were able to meet in person, and even exchange heartfelt gifts!

Mentorship and meaningful connections are so powerful, and we are incredibly grateful these students were able to bond in this special way.

We sincerely thank everyone who made this partnership possible! What a beautiful way to end the first semester!
4 months ago, JEFCOED
Clay-Chalkville High School students and Clay Elementary students walk together outside a school building. One pair of students hug and another student carries a younger student on their back.
Clay-Chalkville High School students stand together for a photo inside a school hallway.
Clay-Chalkville High School and Clay Elementary School students stand and sit together for a photo inside a school classroom.
A student writes a letter inside a classroom.
ABCs on the runway!📚🤩 How precious are these photos from Bryant Park Elementary School?! Ahead of the break, kindergartners celebrated learning all their letters and sounds with an ABC fashion show! Students expressed their letters in style, and we loved seeing their creativity on display!
4 months ago, JEFCOED
Students wearing costumes with different letters on them stand in a line in a classroom and smile.
Students wearing costumes with letters on them sit in a hallway and smile.
Students wearing costumes with letters and items representing that letter sit in a school hallway. One student has a yellow L on her head with a lemon drawing over her clothes. Another student has the letter H, Hello Kitty and Hearts on her clothes.
A student wearing a big letter H with photos of a hat, a bear, a jar of honey, a house, The Hulk, a helmet, a heart, a hand and a horse on it.,
Nothing better than board games and cozy pajamas! Before students went on break, 5th graders at McAdory Elementary School spent some quality time mentoring Mrs. McDaniel’s kindergarten class! It looks like these students had a great time getting to know each other over a fun game of Candyland!🍭
4 months ago, JEFCOED
Students sit in a classroom and play a game of Candyland.
Students sit at a table in a classroom and play a game of candyland.
Students sit at tables in a classroom and play a game of candyland.
Holiday memories at Minor Community School!🎶❄️

Before the break, Minor Middle School’s Advanced Band and Minor High School’s Jazz Band put on a wonderful show for MCS students! The sounds of the season get us all into the holiday spirit, and we greatly appreciate these bands for sharing their impressive talents!👏
4 months ago, JEFCOED
Image is of a band performing for students inside a school gym.
A young student plays a drum in a school gym while a band student holds it.
A band member holds out bells for a young student to see while they stand inside a school gym.
How cool is this?!🎅🎄 After reading “How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?” 3rd and 4th grade STEM classes at Irondale Community School put their engineering skills to use! Students were challenged to build a tall chimney and get Santa in and out using only a piece of twine, a paperclip, and a magnet! It looks like these students had a great time participating in this fun and festive activity!
4 months ago, JEFCOED
Three Irondale Community School students stand at a table and watch as one of the students dangles a paper clip on a string toward blocks stacked in a tall square formation.
Irondale Community School students stand and sit at a table while two of the students dangle string with paperclips on it toward a structure made of blocks.
An Irondale Community School student holds a piece of string toward a structure made of blocks and smiles. The student is standing at a table in a library and is wearing a Santa costume.
Students stand at a table with blocks on it and smile. One of the students holds a string with a picture of Santa on the end of it.
Irondale Community School students stand at a table in the library. Two of the students stare at a structure on the table made of wooden blocks. Another student holds up a string and a piece of paper.
Three Irondale Community School students sit and stand at a table in the library. Two students work on a small structure made of wooden blocks. One of the students holds a string.
The Grinch may have stolen Christmas, but these pictures have captured our hearts!!💚🎄

This month, several of our schools celebrated Grinch Day, with students showing off Who-inspired hairstyles and Grinch-themed outfits! Some schools even enjoyed visits from the green guy himself! These smiles say it all. What a fun way to end the first semester!
4 months ago, JEFCOED
A person in a Grinch costume holds a smiling student while standing in a school hallway.
Teachers stand in a school and smile while posing next to someone in a Grinch costume. In front of the people, two ceramic geese sit on the floor wearing Christmas-themed outfits.
Children wearing Grinch-themed outfits pose next to someone in a Grinch costume while standing inside a school.
A woman dressed like a "Who" poses next to someone wearing a Grinch costume.
A child and an adult, both dressed like the Grinch point at eachother while standing inside a school hallway.
Students and a teacher dressed in Grinch-themed outfits smile for a photo while standing and sitting in a school hallway.
A student wearing a holiday outfit stands in a school hallway and poses next to an adult wearing a Grinch costume.
Students wearing Grinch-themed outfits stand and sit in a school hallway and pose with a teacher and an adult wearing a grinch costume.
Students wearing Grinch-themed outfits pose for a photo inside a school library.
JEFCOED Family, thank you for making this a wonderful first semester!📚👏

From our students striving for success in the classroom and beyond, to our educators and parents providing support and encouragement, your hard work and dedication have made us incredibly proud.

Enjoy your much-deserved break! We look forward to seeing students back in the classroom on January 6.
5 months ago, JEFCOED
Image is a graphic with text on a circle and a light blue background with snowflakes and frost on it. The text says "JEFCOED Mid-Year Holidays Schools Closed: December 22-January 5 Students Return: January 6. Congratulations on a Wonderful Fall Semester! Enjoy Your Much-Deserved Break!" Below the text is the JEFCOED logo.
Plenty of smiles and holiday spirit at the Central Office Building this morning!💙✨

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Ugly Sweater Holiday Breakfast! The tacky attire and delicious meals were amazing, but the company was even better!
5 months ago, JEFCOED
A man and a woman stand together for a photo and smile. They wear matching Frog and Toad Holiday Sweaters.
Three women stand together for a photo and smile. They all wear holiday sweaters.
A man wearing holiday attire serves another man food at a holiday breakfast.
A man and a woman wearing holiday sweaters stand together for a photo and smile.
A man with a Christmas tree hat and a woman wearing reindeer antlers and a holiday sweater stand together for a photo in a building and smile. The woman is doing the peace sign with her hand.
It takes a village, and we have an amazing one here at JEFCOED!💙👏

This year, Gardendale Student Council’s Christmas Visions fundraiser reached new heights thanks to the generosity of donors and dedication from students and staff. The total raised during the fundraiser was $55,592.05, the highest amount raised in Christmas Visions history!🎉

This year’s program will serve 24 JEFCOED Schools and more than 200 students across our county. Every child deserves a magical holiday season, and we are grateful to the Gardendale Student Council for not only continuing this long-running fundraiser, but also making it bigger and better each year. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
5 months ago, JEFCOED
Two students wearing matching Christmas Visions shirts smile for a photo while shopping for Christmas gifts at Walmart.
Two students wearing matching Christmas Visions sweatshirts look at a book in an aisle at Walmart.
Two students wearing Christmas Visions shirts smile for a photo while standing in an aisle at Walmart.
A student puts an item into a shopping cart at Walmart while another student stands behind her checking off a list.
Two students smile while putting sweaters into a grocery cart inside Walmart.
A man holds a list while shopping at Walmart.
Adults stand together behind boxes filled with manillla folders and smile.
A student wearing a Christmas Visions shirt holds a garbage bag while standing inside a Walmart.
Three students stand together for a photo and smile while standing inside a Walmart.
A student holds a pair of shoes while checking out at Walmart.
The Yellowjackets have been busy spreading holiday spirit throughout their community!✨🎄

During Corner High School’s 2nd annual Adopt a Grandparent event, the school sponsored 30 residents of a local nursing home and handed out more than 100 stockings to residents.💛

We appreciate Corner High’s counseling department for sponsoring such a wonderful program and extend our gratitude to everyone who helped make this event come to life!
5 months ago, JEFCOED
A group of women stand together and smile while loading boxes into a school bus.
A group of women stand outside a school and load boxes into a school bus.
A group of women and a man stand together for a photo outside a building with a wreath on the wall.
A group of women and a man smile in a selfie taken on a school bus.
What a treat it was to witness such beautiful Holiday Cheer Performances!🎶❄️

Yesterday was our final round of performances/demonstrations at the Jefferson County Schools Board of Education. We sincerely appreciate each group for putting on such wonderful shows! Our JEFCOED Family is incredibly talented, and we love seeing them shine!

Please help us celebrate our final Holiday Cheer performers:
✨Grantswood Community School and Irondale Community School choirs led by Ms. Julie Arman
✨JCIB Middle Years Programme led by Ms. Diana Preoteasa
✨Art Demonstration by Shelly Bailey, Arts Supervisor
5 months ago, JEFCOED
Choirs from Grantswood Community School and Irondale Community School perform a song in the Jefferson County Schools Board of Education board room.
Choir students from Grantswood Community School and Irondale Community School perform together in the board room at the Jefferson County Schools Board of Education.
JCIB Middle Years Programme choir performs in the Jefferson County Schools Board of Education board room. The students are standing on the floor, singing while their choir director, Ms. Diana Preoteasa, conducts.
JCIB Middle Years Programme choir students perform in the board room at the Jefferson County Schools Board of Education.
Arts Supervisor Shelly Bailey leads an art demonstration at the Jefferson County Schools Board of Education. She stands in the board room holding a drawing of poinsettias and a large notebook.
Three women sit at a table and draw on construction paper with crayons.
Arts Supervisor Shelly Bailey draws on a large notebook while leading an art demonstration in the Jefferson County Schools board room. Three women sit at a table in front of her drawing on construction paper.
JEFCOED employees stand together in the JEFCOED board room and smile while holding construction paper with poinsettias drawn on them.
Not even the Grinch could steal joy from Bragg Middle School’s Christmas Visions Pep Rally!✨🎄

We are proud to share that these students raised $11,662.61 for Christmas Visions, an event organized by the Gardendale High School Student Council that provides gifts to local families. These students have hearts for service, and it was a joy seeing them celebrate their work! We sincerely appreciate everyone who has contributed to this fundraiser and know it will make a true difference in our community!
5 months ago, JEFCOED
Image is from the Bragg Middle School Christmas Visions Pep Rally inside Bragg's gym. In the photo, the Grinch is stealing a paper with a donation amount written on it from students.
Image is from the Bragg Middle School Christmas Visions Pep Rally inside Bragg's gym. In the photo, a student and an SRO are stopping the Grinch from stealing a donation.
Image is from the Bragg Middle School Christmas Visions Pep Rally inside Bragg's gym. Here, students pose with a large piece of paper made to look like a check. It's showing the amount of money students raised for Christmas Visions. The total was $11,662.61.
Image is from the Bragg Middle School Christmas Visions Pep Rally inside Bragg's gym. In the photo, dance team members are performing in red costumes.
Image is from the Bragg Middle School Christmas Visions Pep Rally inside Bragg's gym. In the photo, students are lifting another student in the air while they all wear santa hats and christmas themed pajamas.
Image is from the Bragg Middle School Christmas Visions Pep Rally inside Bragg's gym. In the photo, students are playing a game where they try to put balls in a trash can while someone holds their legs.
Image is from the Bragg Middle School Christmas Visions Pep Rally inside Bragg's gym. In the photo, Gardendale cheerleaders are performing a routine.
Image is from the Bragg Middle School Christmas Visions Pep Rally inside Bragg's gym. In the photo, a student wears Christmas themed glasses and smiles while sitting on the bleachers.
Celebrating success at Rudd Middle School!🎉

On Friday, more than 100 Rudd students participated in a signing ceremony, where they were honored for achieving A and A/B honor roll, having no disciplinary issues, and being below the chronic absenteeism threshold! The 16-foot banner showing off students’ signatures will now be proudly displayed across from the school, serving as a reminder of their hard work during the first semester!

It makes us incredibly proud to see these students go the extra mile in the classroom and beyond! We can’t wait to see what they continue to accomplish.
5 months ago, JEFCOED
Rudd Middle School's principal hands a certificate to a student during an award ceremony held in the school gym.
Rudd Middle School's principal poses for a photo with a student during an award ceremony in the school gym. The student holds a certificate and smiles.
Rudd Middle School's principal stands next to a student for a photo during an award ceremony held in a school gym.
A student signs a banner during an award ceremony held inside a school gym.
A student signs a banner during an award ceremony inside a school gym.
A student signs a banner during an award ceremony inside a school gym.
Image is of a large banner with Rudd Middle School students' names listed on it. Next to their names are their signatures. In the middle of the banner is the Rudd Middle School logo.
Four students smile for a photo following an award ceremony held in the school gym. One student holds a certificate and another student holds a certificate and flowers.
Six students smile for a photo following an award ceremony inside a school gym. All of the students sit on bleachers and hold up certificates.