Shades Valley High School

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!

5 days ago, JEFCOED

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!

6 days 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

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!

10 days 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.

Behind the scenes of Birmingham High School Football Media Days!📸🎥
As the season quickly approaches, our teams are speaking with news outlets about what we can expect once they hit the field!
In total, there are more than 40 schools from the Birmingham metro area participating in Media Days!
We’re getting fired up for football season and can't wait to see our talented teams in action!🏈🎉

13 days ago, JEFCOED

Two men sit, facing toward each other. One man holds two microphones in the direction of the other man.

Four students wearing matching polo shirts and khaki pants walk onto a stage.

Two men sit in a room, facing each other. A camera on a tripod sits next to the two men.

🎉JEFCOED was well-represented during AHSAA’s North-South All-Star week!🎉

Congratulations to our talented athletes and coach for being selected for this elite group!

🥎Softball - Anna Kate Smith, Corner High School
⚽Boys Soccer - Wyatt Chandler, Gardendale High School
🏀Boys Basketball - Jeremy Chatman, Shades Valley High School
🏀Girls Basketball - Zoey Little, Shades Valley High School
⚾Baseball Coach - Ryan Keedy, Gardendale High School

📷Photos courtesy of AHSAA, Shades Valley High School, Gardendale High School Athletics, and Gardendale High School Soccer 📷

17 days ago, JEFCOED

Photo of girl wearing a softball glove, holding a softball. Text around the photo reads "North-South All-Star Game Anna Kate Smith Corner High School"

Photo of a boy wearing a soccer jersey, standing on a soccer field.

Graphic has photos of two basketball players. Text around players reads "2025 AHSAA North-South All-Star Game AHSAA 2025 North All Stars SVLM Alabama All-Star Sports Week AHSAA SV"

Two men wearing athletic clothes stand in a dugout, smiling at camera.

🎨Creativity was on full display at the Alabama Art Education Association Summer Board Retreat!🎨

Some members of our JEFCOED family were in attendance, and enjoyed a full schedule of exciting activities! Our educators painted Honey Bears with artist Jayne Morgan, toured the Birmingham Museum of Art and took part in a Shibori dyeing workshop at ArtPlay!

Members of our JEFCOED family in attendance include:
🎨Ashley Culwell, Shades Valley High School
🎨Jack Vest, McCalla Elementary
🎨Mary Jane Coker, McAdory Elementary

about 1 month ago, JEFCOED

Shibori fabric displayed in front of brick building

Clothes pins attached to fabric stick out of a bucket filled with blue liquid

Person stands in room, painting on canvas as others sit in the room and watch

Painting of bear-shaped jar with honey spilling out of the lid

Congratulations to Jakai Dorsey for being selected as a WBRC 6 News Rising Star🌟! Jakai is a Senior at Shades Valley High School with a 4.05 GPA! He is involved in Science Olympiad, Esports, the National Society of High School Scholars, and the Computer Science Honor Society. Outside school, Jakai demonstrates his dedication by working at Chick-fil-A! 📣We are excited to announce that WBRC FOX6 will spotlight him on April 17th during the 5 PM newscast!

4 months ago, JEFCOED

Our Shades Valley High School JROTC Cadets stay busy throughout the year serving the community. Just this weekend, they presented Colors for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of Irondale's new ⚾️Ruffner Sports Complex🥎!

5 months ago, JEFCOED

Shades Valley High School JROTC Cadets present the Colors at the grand opening of Irondale's Ruffner Sports Park. They are standing on the center diamond of the baseball field.

A wide view of the Shades Valley JROTC presenting the colors at the grand opening of Irondale's new Ruffner Sports Complex.

Members of the Irondale Community participate in the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for their new Ruffner Sports Complex.

Baseball and Softball players stand with their hand over their heart.

Shades Valley High School JROTC presenting the Colors.

Let's give it up for the Shades Valley High School Cheerleaders! The powerhouse squad brought their A-game to America’s Cheerleading Cup Championship, finishing 2nd🥈 in the Traditional: High School Advanced Small CoEd Division! 🎉👏 Their Mountie energy, talent and hard work were on full display, and we couldn't be prouder of these incredible athletes and their coaches! ❤️🖤

6 months ago, JEFCOED

Shades Valley High School Cheerleading Squad at America's Cheerleading Cup Championship

🎉💙Happy National School Counseling Week 2025!💙 We're celebrating our amazing school counselors and their vital role in helping students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Thank you for all you do! #NSCW25 #ThankYouCounselors

6 months ago, JEFCOED

School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive National School Counseling Week, February 3-7, 2025, Thank You, School Counselors, American School Counselor Association

Many of us went to sleep on Thursday night, thinking it wouldn't happen after all. And then it did!! The JEFCOED family enjoyed a beautiful snow day on Friday.❄️☃️ Thank you to all of those who sent in pictures. Your smiles and joy warmed our hearts. Here are just a few of the many fantastic pictures we received.

7 months ago, JEFCOED

Two girls excitedly sled down the street in the show using a pool float shaped like a dragon.

Three boys stand in front of their home with their hands in the air, celebrating the snow.

A group of young boys pretends to play video games in the snow. They have placed a tv outside and show it hooked up to a snow mound.

Two kids have build a snowman and a an igloo. One boy is inside the igloo and the other boy is standing by the snowman.

Two boys are sledding in the snow with a red sled.

A young girl poses next to a snowman wearing a Snow Rogers Bulldogs shirt.

A boy is riding a sled down his driveway.

A family of three plays in the snow. All of the family members are wearing pink.

A young boy is playing in the snow on a round pool float.

This morning, the Alabama Department of Education approved a resolution recognizing Dr. Walter B. Gonsoulin, Jr. as the 2025 Alabama Superintendent of the Year!! Dr. Gonsoulin serves State School Board Districts Three, Four, and Seven with heart, vision, and determination. We couldn't be prouder of his leadership. Congratulations, Dr. Gonsoulin! You've made us all #JEFCOEDProud!

8 months ago, JEFCOED

Dr. Walter B. Gonsoulin Jr. stands with members of the Alabama Department of Education School Board. He is holding a resolution honoring him for being named the 2025 Alabama State Superintendent of the Year.

Dr. Walter B. Gonsoulin Jr. holds a resolution for the Alabama State School Board recognizing him as the 2025 Alabama Superintendent of the Year. He is standing next to the 200 Alabama Bicentennial bell.

Dr. Walter Gonsoulin stands with members of his staff and holds a resolution honoring him as the 2025 State Superintendent of the Year.

Dr. Gonsouling stands with his Deputy Superintendents (Dr. Jeff Caufield, Dr. Laura Ware, Dr. Orletta Rush) while holding a resolution honoring him as the Alabama Superintendent of the Year.

Shades Valley High School art teacher and local artist, Ashley Culwell, has once again amazed us with her latest creation, "With You." This vibrant sculpture is the 18th addition to the iconic Vulcans on Parade series. It celebrates the spirit of camaraderie within the Birmingham Rugby Club. Ms. Culwell's dedication to her students and the arts is inspiring, and we're honored to have her as part of our JEFCOED family!

9 months ago, JEFCOED

Artist and Shades Valley High School Art Teacher, Ashley Culwell, stands next to her latest sculpture "With You," the 18th addition to the iconic Vulcans on Parade series.

"With You," the 18th addition to the iconic Vulcans on Parade series.

Plaque for the sculpture "With You," the latest statue in the Vulcans on Parade series.

Our Shades Valley High School JROTC cadets showed their patriotism and respect for our veterans by marching in the 77th National Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham, AL. We're so proud of their dedication and service. 🇺🇸 #VeteransDay #JROTC #ShadesValley

9 months ago, JEFCOED

Shades Valley High School JROTC Cadets march in the 77th National Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham, AL.

🎉 A big thank you to Mayor Stewart and the City of Irondale for their generous $6,500 donation to the Marine Corps J.R.O.T.C. program! This support will help us celebrate the 249th Marine Corps Birthday Ball. We truly appreciate your commitment to our students and school community! 🇺🇸

9 months ago, JEFCOED

Members of the Shades Valley High School Marine Corps JROTC accept a donation check from Mayor Stewart of the City of Irondale.

Cadets from Shades Valley and Clay-Chalkville High win 1st🏆 place in the Bob Jones Fitness Challenge!! Congratulations to these young warriors for putting their very best effort into this challenge and coming out on top! 💪 #LeadershipExcellence #SignatureLeadershipAcademy #MCJROTC

9 months ago, JEFCOED

Cadets display medals and trophy they earned in the Bob Jones Fitness Challenge.

Cadets stand facing away from the camera. Their shirts say Marines.

One cadet cheers on another as he participates in a relay race.

Cadets are pushing weights across the field.

Cadets from Shades Valley High School and Clay-Chalkville High School pose together before the Bob Jones Fitness Challenge.

🎉Congratulations, Dr. Walter Gonsoulin🎉 We are beyond thrilled to share that our very own Superintendent, Dr. Gonsoulin, has been named the 2025 Alabama/Schneider Electric Superintendent of the Year! 🏆 This incredible recognition speaks to Dr. Gonsoulin's heart for education and his constant drive to make our schools the best they can be. We're so proud to have him leading the way for JEFCOED and can't wait to see where his vision takes us next! #JEFCOEDProud #SuperintendentOfTheYear #CongratulationsDrG

10 months ago, JEFCOED

Dr. Walter Gonsoulin is standing at a podium after being names 2025 Alabama Superintendent of the Year

🎗️Let's Unite for Childhood Cancer Awareness!🎗️ This Thursday, September 26th, marks a special day for JEFCOED as we join forces with the Hope for Autumn Foundation for Give Hope Day! We're calling on everyone to 🌟WEAR GOLD🌟 as we stand together to honor and raise awareness for children and families affected by childhood cancer. 💛Together, we can make a difference!

11 months ago, JEFCOED

September 26th is Give Hope Day in JEFCOED. Hands holding the word Hope in wooden letters. Yellow ribbon for cancer awareness.

Congratulations to Dr. Walter Gonsoulin on being named the 2025 District 5 Superintendent of the Year by the School Superintendents of Alabama. Dr. Gonsoulin works tirelessly to expand opportunities for all students, and this recognition reflects his outstanding leadership and dedication to public education. The statewide winner will be announced in March 2025. We wish Dr. Gonsoulin the best of luck as he continues championing educational excellence! #JEFCOEDproud #SuperintendentOfTheYear

11 months ago, JEFCOED

Announcement that Dr. Walter Gonsoulin has been named 2025 Alabama, District 5 Superintendent of the Year. Includes images of Dr. Gonsoulin working around the district.