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National Board certified English teacher Cassie Screws shares what she loves about HHS.

First, tell me more about yourself.

I’m a long-time Shelby County resident– I moved to Alabaster in 2002, where I attended Thompson High School and met my husband. My family moved a lot when I was growing up, and Shelby County is the first place I ever called home. My family lives in Alabaster. My high school sweetheart husband and I have three boys—Judah, age 8, Parker, age 6 and Knox, age 2. We love to travel, but my biggest personal hobby is reading. I love a good book club and will read any genre.

Can you tell me about your career in education?

I graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in communications and spent the first few years of my career working at an advertising agency. While it was fun and filled with excitement and plenty of travel opportunities, it did not quite give me the satisfaction and reward that I was looking for in a career, so I went back to school and earned my master’s in education at the University of Montevallo and began teaching middle school shortly after. I spent two years in middle school before deciding to make the leap to high school and have never looked back.  I’ve been at Helena for seven years now. I have taught every grade level from seventh to 12th. I’m currently teaching ninth grade English and AP literature and composition.  Both are vastly different, but I love them both so much.

How did it feel when you completed your National Board certification?

I love education and consider myself a lifelong learner, so I’m always looking for ways to improve my craft. The National Board seemed like the clear next step for me. I completed the process in one calendar year and passed on my first time. I felt very proud of myself. It was a grueling process, but I gained so much insight into who I am as a teacher and how to best serve my students.

What sparked your interest in teaching English?

Honestly, it came from a deep love of reading. I’ve always been captivated by the power of stories. How the right words, carefully chosen, can make you feel something deeply or help you see the world in a completely new light. Books often mirror our own experiences or challenge us to think about our beliefs. They allow us to broaden our worldview and helps us understand experiences that may be completely outside of our own reality.

What is your favorite thing about working at HHS?

The community, hands down. HHS is a truly special place. I feel incredibly lucky to teach at a school where everyone feels like part of a community. We support one another, celebrate each other’s wins and work together to make the school a place where everyone feels valued. Not to mention, we have phenomenal leadership at HHS. Our administrative staff is very supportive. Every school faces challenges, and while it’s not perfect, there is nowhere else I would rather be.