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The Alabaster City Schools Board of Education took the time to honor its support personnel during an annual meeting on Monday, March 10. (For the Reporter/Jason Gaston)

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Alabaster City Schools Board of Education took the time to honor the individuals who work behind the scenes and serve as the backbone of the school system during its support personnel of the year recognition.

On Monday, March 10, the ACS Board of Education named its Support Person of the Year, Bus Driver of the Year, Child Nutrition Program Person of the Year and Counselor of the Year during a regularly scheduled meeting.

“This is one of my favorite times—to recognize our support persons of the year,” Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers said. “I want you to know that everyone here tonight is a winner. This is an amazing group.”

Vickers shared that the school system always takes the time to honor its teachers of the year but suggested that this ceremony gave the opportunity for ACS to brag on its support personnel.

“We can change the world one bus ride at a time, one student getting breakfast or lunch at a time, a paraprofessional assisting that teacher or student in the classroom—it makes a difference,” Vickers said. “I think it’s one of the big differences in ACS and how we respond to our students that we serve.”

During the meeting, the BOE called forward employees—honoring them with a round of applause and presenting them with a plaque that signified their accomplishment and impact on ACS.

“(I would like to say,) ‘Thanks’ to our support people,” Board member Misty Johnson said. “It’s very important that we have them. When you’re at the schools, you see that it takes them just as much as everybody else to run the school.”

The following ACS employees were recognized as 2024-2025 Support Person of the Year:

• Creek View Elementary – Racquelle Lane
• Meadow View Elementary – LuAnn Gossett
• Thompson Intermediate – Emily McClain
• Thompson Middle – Catherine Jetzel
• Thompson High – Catherine “Cappy” Ratcliffe
• Central Office – Jean Rose

Rose was also honored as the overall district winner for Support Person of the Year for 2024-2025.

Lauren Clark was named the Elementary Counselor of the Year and Danleigh Jenkins was recognized as the Secondary Counselor of the Year.

The follow ACS staff members were honored as 2024-2025 Bus Driver of the Year:

• Creek View Elementary – Susan Masterson
• Meadow View Elementary – Ralph Nelson
• Thompson Intermediate – Amanda Kane
• Thompson Middle – Lisa Hammett
• Thompson High – Mike Sherwood

The follow ACS employees were recognized as 2024-2025 CNP Person of the Year:

• Creek View Elementary – Candace Lowery
• Meadow View Elementary – Janet Johnson
• Thompson Intermediate – Latesha Oden
• Thompson Middle – Lida Hutcheson
• Thompson High – Kasey Weeks

Lowery also received the honor of being named the overall CNP Person of the Year for the district.

After all of the accolades were distributed to employees, Vickers expressed his gratitude to everyone.

“It takes the entire village and the entire team and everyone in our school system is part of that team,” Vickers said. “Everyone in here and every employee is part of the ACS family. Thank you for the great work that you do.”

In other business, the Alabaster City Schools BOE approved the following items during the meeting:

• 2025-2026 ACS district calendar
• Science textbook adoption
• Resolution #2025-02
• Out-of-state field trips
• Janitorial supply floor maintenance supplies
• New BOE Central Office public relations equipment
• New Central office superintendent approval authority of items
• Personnel actions

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