As Alabaster City Schools prepares to open its doors for the first time when students return to school Aug. 19, teachers, administrators and staff were recently treated to a special visit from an important guest.

State Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice spoke during an institute day Aug. 12, while teachers and staff readied for the beginning of the school year. Bice said it was a special day for him as well, as he’d never before gotten the opportunity to witness the birth of a brand-new school system.

Alabaster Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers laid out his goals for the city’s schools, and gave a quote that we thought was a stirring one: “We can not and we will not accept anything less than our students’ best efforts, and we will not give them anything less in return. We will be the best school district in this state, I promise.”

As all of our schools ready for students’ return, we hope that those who work in each of the three public school districts in Shelby County — Alabaster, Hoover and Shelby County — are prepared to do just that. We hope the same for those who work in the numerous private schools here, as well.

People respond to expectations, and we hope that our educational leaders in this county have high expectations for themselves and for those under their daily care.

day of the school year represents an opportunity — an opportunity for teachers to pass on knowledge, for students to learn and grow, for school systems to improve and move forward. If any of those days are wasted, it’s an opportunity that no one ever gets back.

As always, we are relentlessly proud of the high quality of education in this county, and we look forward to reporting on the projects, innovations and achievements undoubtedly coming our way during the 2013-2014 school year.

The We Say is the opinion of the Shelby County Reporter editorial board.