Our final JEFCOED Journeys post of 2026! 😎☀️ What a superb summer it has been!

💻 Joris K. Hayes successfully completed five weeks at Cybersecurity and AI camp at Talladega College! So impressive! 👏
Joris is a student at Clay-Chalkville High School.

⚾️ Christopher White Jr. was selected to represent the state of Alabama on the National All-State Baseball Team in Lafayette, Louisiana! His team played with grit and finished as runner-up in the 11-U division. Way to go!
Christopher is an upcoming 6th grader at Fultondale Middle and Ms. White is a 1st-grade teacher at U.W. Clemon Elementary School!

🔬 Fredrick Flowers II was selected for the Future SciTech Leaders Summit!
Fredrick is a student at Clay-Chalkville High School. Kina Phillips teaches at Clay-Chalkville Middle School, and Fred Flowers teaches at Chalkville Elementary!

🤩 And last but not least, Bryant Park CNP workers enjoyed one last unforgettable summer night together at Protective Stadium before heading back to the cafeteria!
9 days ago, JEFCOED
A student smiles for a photo while standing in front of a red and blue photo backdrop with balloons.
A child wearing a baseball uniform smiles for a photo in front of a baseball field.
A graphic with a student's picture announces he's been nominated and selected to receive the Future Sci Tech Leaders Summit Award of Excellence.
Three women smile for a photo while sitting in the bleachers of an open-air stadium.
Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of students? 🚌💙 Join our dedicated and talented team of bus drivers today!

Why apply?
✨ Insurance and retirement benefits, a competitive salary, and the opportunity to serve your community!

Who we're looking for:
✨ Full-time and substitute drivers available to work five days a week, between 2-8 hours a day.

Interested in joining our team as a bus driver? Click here for more information: https://www.jefcoed.com/o/jcs/page/bus-driver
10 days ago, JEFCOED
Graphic encourages people to apply for bus driving positions at Jefferson County Schools.
What a wonderful first day back in the classroom! 🤩📚

To our families, students, educators, staff members, and administrators — thank you for making the first day one to remember. Your spirit and positive mindsets will drive us toward a remarkable year, and we truly could not be more excited!
12 days ago, JEFCOED
Children wearing backpacks smile and pose for a photo outdoors.
Two children wearing matching first day of school shirts stand outdoors and smile for a photo.
Two girls smile for a photo while standing outdoors in a driveway.
A woman and two children pose for a photo on a balcony outside a house.
Two boys wearing matching outfits stand outdoors and smile for a photo.
Two children stand outside a home and smile for a photo.
A boy and a girl smile for a photo outdoors in a driveway.
A child stands outside a building and poses for a first day of school photo.
A child stands outside a home and poses for a photo. He holds up a first day of school flag.
A woman and two children smile for a photo inside a room.
We are thrilled to see our students tomorrow (Wednesday, August 12, 2026) for the first day of school! 💙🎉 We hope everyone has a wonderful start to the year!
13 days ago, JEFCOED
Graphic announces JEFCOED’s 26-27 school year begins on August 12, 2026
We are feeling energized and ready for the academic year ahead following today’s Back to School Conference! 💙📚

The theme for this school year, "Realizing our Potential, Redefining the Standard,” is all about acknowledging and appreciating our progress, while setting even bigger goals and raising the bar. Today, our faculty and staff gathered in one place to do exactly this. Together, we celebrated past wins and set the stage for a successful school year ahead.

We sincerely appreciate our educators and administrators for participating today, as well as each of our presenters for their time. We are beyond excited for the 2026-2027 school year, and can’t wait to see everyone in the classroom next week! 🎉
16 days ago, JEFCOED
A woman walks through a parking lot. She smiles and waves.
Three women stand together for a photo and smile. They stand in front of a Jefferson County Schools themed photo backdrop and hold a sign that says "Better Together."
Two women high-five while standing outside a building.
A women sits in an auditorium seat and listens to a speaker.
Three people stand in a room in a building and speak to each other.
A woman and a man stand together and smile for a photo inside a room.
Two women stand together for a photo outside a building.
Two women sit in auditorium chairs and smile for a photo.
JEFCOED Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin stands on a stage and smiles while giving a speech.
A group of adults stand together and smile for a photo. They hold education themed signs and stand in front of a Jefferson County Schools photo backdrop.
Inaugural Campus Communicator Summit: Complete! ✅📢

Yesterday was full of excitement as Campus Communicators from across our district met at the Central Office for training. These educators will serve as the voice of their school, showcasing the amazing things happening on campus, as well as keeping students and families informed. 👏📚

We are so excited for this new journey and want to thank everyone who made yesterday's summit a success!
19 days ago, JEFCOED
Educators sit at tables in a room and smile. One of the educators holds up a small bag.
A woman smiles while standing at a podium inside a room. Educators sit at tables around her and take notes.
Educators sit at tables inside a room.
Two women smile while sitting at a table inside a room.
A woman stands at a podium in a room and speaks into a microphone. People sit in chairs around her and listen.
A man stands in a room and smiles. He holds a coffee cup in his hand that says "Good News is Strategic."
A woman stands in a room and smiles.
Adults sit at tables inside a room. One of the adults raises their hand.
Adults sit at tables inside a room. Two women in the center of the photo smile.
Our 2026 New Teacher Orientation is in the books, and WOW do we have an incredible group of educators joining the JEFCOED Family! 👏📚 Thank you to our presenters and attendees for making today’s orientation such a success. We are ecstatic for the upcoming year and can’t wait to see the difference each of our teachers will make!
19 days ago, JEFCOED
Three women sit in an auditorium and smile for a photo
JEFCOED Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin speaks into a microphone in an auditorium
A woman speaks to adults while they sit in a classroom and listen
Three adults stand together in an auditorium and smile for a photo.
Two women sit in an auditorium and smile for a photo
A mariachi band performs for adults as they sit in seats in an auditorium
Preparing the next generation of educators! 📚💙

Last night, we welcomed students and families to Center Point High School for the UAB-JEFCOED Teacher Academy open house! Members of our JEFCOED Family learned all about the magnet program, toured the wing that will house the Teacher Academy, and even got to meet some of the program’s educators.

We’re beyond excited that students will not only have the chance to gain valuable experience in the field of education, but also complete a significant portion of their college degree at no cost. The future of education is bright — and it’s being developed right here at JEFCOED!
20 days ago, JEFCOED
A girl sits at a table in a library and holds a UAB shirt.
Three people sit at a table in a library and speak to each other.
A girl sits at a table in a library and smiles.
A girl and a woman sit at a table in a library. The girl looks at a laptop screen.
JEFCOED Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin speaks to a room of people inside a library.
A girl smiles while standing in a library and holding a bag that says Teacher Academy.
Two women look down at a laptop while standing in a library. Other people sit around them at tables.
A woman stands in a library and speaks to people as they sit at a table.
Women stand in a library and speak to a group of individuals as they sit at tables.
A group of adults sit at tables inside a library and speak to each other.
Legends in the making! ⚾️👏

We are proud to share that last week, Clay-Chalkville High School baseball player Kedrick Thomas participated in the elite “44 Game” at Rickwood Field! This matchup brings together the top players from the Hank Aaron Invitational, an educational training experience for athletes across the country.

Kedrick was one of only two players from our state selected for the showcase game, and we are incredibly proud of the work he’s put in to get to this stage!

Click here to watch Kedrick's interview with WBRC: https://www.wbrc.com/2026/07/29/clay-chalkville-senior-stars-mlbs-44-game-rickwood-field/
21 days ago, JEFCOED
A baseball player runs across a baseball field. He wears a jersey with the number 11 and "Hank Aaron" on it. His hat has the number 44 on it.
A baseball player stands on first base while playing in the Hank Aaron 44 game at Rickwood Field.
What an inspiring two days we've had at the 2026 Leadership Summit!👏 It is truly a gift to have our school and district leaders all under one roof, sharing ideas and setting the standard for the incredible school year ahead. Thank you to Hueytown High School for hosting!
25 days ago, JEFCOED
Attendees of the 2026 JEFCOED Leadership Summit smile at the camera.
A woman smiles and waves at the camera as she walks into the 2026 JEFCOED Leadership Summit.
Group photo of attendees at the 2026 JEFCOED Leadership Summit.
Two attendees of the JEFCOED Leadership Summit smile for a photo.
Three attendees at the 2026 JEFCOED Leadership Summit smile while holding up various restaurant gift cards.
A woman speaks to the audience at the 2025 JEFCOED Leadership Conference.
Two attendees of the 2026 JEFCOED Leadership Summit smile for the camera.
Attendees of the 2026 Leadership Summit smile at the camera.
Attendees walk into the 2026 JEFCOED Leadership Summit.
A woman stands in a kitchen and smiles at the camera while holding up a water bottle.
English as a Second Language educators from across our state are equipped and energized for the school year following this year’s ESL Summer Summit at McAdory Middle School! 👏

More than 100 teachers met for powerful sessions ranging from how to empower students, engage with their families, and collaborate with fellow educators. We are proud of this group of leaders and can’t wait to see the difference they’ll make this school year!
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
A woman stands in the front of a classroom and holds a laptop while giving a lesson.
Educators sit in desks inside a classroom and listen to a speaker.
Two women stand at the front of a classroom at a smart board and lead a presentation.
Educators sit at desks inside a classroom and listen to a presenter.
A woman sits at a table in a school hallway and smiles.
Educators sit in a classroom and listen to a presenter.
A woman gives a presentation while standing at the front of a classroom.
Getting game day ready! 🎵🐾 Today, we caught up with the Clay-Chalkville High School marching band as they prepare for the upcoming football season! Band camp is off to an amazing start and we can’t wait to see these students shine on the field! ✨🎷
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
A girl smiles while practicing a dance routine in a parking lot
A boy stands in a parking lot and plays a snare drum
a girl stands in a parking lot and plays a trumpet
A group of girls stand in a parking lot and smile while practicing marching band fundamentals
Majorettes stand in a parking lot and smile during practice
A boy plays a tuba while standing in a parking lot
A girl plays a saxophone while standing in a parking lot
A girl plays an instrument while standing inside a parking lot
Band students stand in a parking lot and play trombones
Two boys stand in a parking lot and play instruments during a marching band practice
🗓️ This Week ‼️ | Substitute Teacher Hiring Event 📚🎉

JEFCOED Family, don’t forget that this week, Kelly Education is hosting a substitute teacher hiring event for Jefferson County Schools! Head out to Bryant Park Elementary School on Thursday, July 23, 2026, to learn more about how you can make a difference as a substitute teacher! The event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. See you there!
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
Graphic announces that Kelly Education will be hosting a substitute teacher hiring event at Bryant Park Elementary School on July 23, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
PowerEDUp and ready to shine! 💡📚

This week, JEFCOED educators, administrators, and district leaders gathered at Fultondale High School for the 2026 PowerEDUp! Tech Conference. Attendees spent the day learning from experts and discovering innovative ways to use technology in their classrooms!

We sincerely thank our Technology Department for organizing this fantastic and informative conference, as well as our wonderful educators for attending!
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
Two ladies stand together inside a building and smile for a photo.
Three women stand together for a photo. They smile and pose in front of a photo backdrop with stars and "VIP" written on it. They wear sparkly sunglasses and feather boas.
Two women smile while sitting at a table inside a classroom.
Three women smile for a photo while standing inside a room. Two of the women wear matching CTE shirts.
Three women stand together in a hallway at Fultondale High School. Two of the women hug each other and smile.
Two women pose for a photo inside a school building they stand together and smile.
A woman stands behind a desk and hands another woman a canvas tote with "PowerEDup!" written on it.
A man and two women stand together and smile for a photo while attending the PowerEDUp! tech conference.
A woman stands in front of a classroom of educators and speaks to them as they sit at tables and take notes.
After showcasing plenty of spirit and performing some very impressive routines, our students are leaving UCA Camp with several 1st place trophies, loads of ribbons, and memories that will last a lifetime! 📣🏆

Congratulations to our JEFCOED cheerleaders on your outstanding performances at recent UCA Camps! You all have so much to be proud of. 👏
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
Clay-Chalkville High School cheerleaders stand together for a photo inside a practice facility. They wear matching cheer uniforms and stand behind several trophies.
JCIB cheerleaders pose for a photo inside a football training facility. They smile and pose behind several trophies.
Oak Grove High School cheerleaders pose for a photo inside a football training facility. They wear their cheer uniforms and stand and kneel behind several trophies.
Oak Grove High School cheerleaders pose for a photo inside a football training facility. They wear their cheer uniforms and pose behind trophies.
Fultondale High School cheerleaders pose for a photo inside a football training facility. They wear their uniforms and stand on the turf.
Fultondale High School cheerleaders stand together for a photo outside a building. They smile and wear their cheer uniforms.
Hueytown High School cheerleaders pose for a photo on a practice field. They wear matching purple cheer uniforms and pose behind several trophies.
Pleasant Grove High School cheerleaders pose for a photo outside a building. They wear purple and yellow practice uniforms.
Pleasant Grove High School cheerleaders pose for a photo inside a gym. They wear matching purple cheer uniforms and two of the girls hold trophies.
JEFCOED Journeys 🌟🐾

Clay-Chalkville High School student Anthony Jenkins spent part of his summer learning about careers in public service through UAB’s Future Public Service Leaders Academy!

“From stepping into a room where he knew no one to confidently presenting his vision, Anthony Jenkins showed what growth looks like.” 👏

We are so proud of Anthony and congratulate him on completing this program! Way to go!

We want to see what you’re up to this summer! Submit your JEFCOED Journey here: https://forms.gle/qHNhtLUctMA4vZBr6
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
Graphic shares they Anthony Jenkins completed the UAB Future Public Service Leaders Academy.
Next Week❗️ | Substitute Teacher Hiring Event 📚🍎

Are you ready to make a difference in the field of education? Join us next Thursday (July 23, 2026) for Kelly Education's substitute teacher hiring event!

📍 The event will be held at Bryant Park Elementary School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We hope to see you there!
about 1 month ago, JEFCOED
Graphic announces a substitute teacher hiring event hosted by Kelly Education on Thursday, July 23, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bryant Park Elementary School.
Laying the groundwork for a successful school year! 📚💫 This week, members of JEFCOED’s Continuous Improvement Leadership Team are all under one roof, collaborating and reviewing data as we prepare for the upcoming school year! We appreciate their dedication to our students and celebrate all the hard work they’re putting in. 👏
about 2 months ago, JEFCOED
Educators and administrators sit at desks in a classroom and listen to speakers
A man stands at a smart board and speaks to a group of educators and administrators as they sit at desks and listen
A woman stands at the front of a classroom and speaks to a group of educators and administrators as they sit at desks
A woman stands at the front of a classroom and speaks to educators and administrators as they sit at desks
A man takes notes on paper while sitting at a desk in a classroom.
A woman addresses a room of administrators
Administrators sit at desks in a classroom and listen to a speaker
Educators and administrators sit at desks inside a classroom
Educators smile while sitting at desks in a classroom during professional development
Women sit in chairs in an auditorium and take notes as a speaker talks
Happy 4th of July, JEFCOED Family! We hope you have a fun and safe holiday weekend! 🎉🌟
about 2 months ago, JEFCOED
Graphic wishes students, families, and employees of Jefferson County Schools a happy Independence Day.
👋 Hey JEFCOED Family! This is a friendly reminder that all schools and offices will be closed Thursday, July 2, and Friday, July 3, 2026, for Independence Day. We look forward to seeing everyone back on Monday, July 6, 2026. Enjoy your holiday weekend! 🎉
about 2 months ago, JEFCOED
Graphic announces that Jefferson County Schools will be closed July 2nd and 3rd, 2026 for Independence Day.