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The Alabaster City Schools Board of Education honored the ACS Spirit Squad during a meeting and hand-delivered the members certificates of recognition. (Contributed)

Alabaster City Schools Spirit Squad recognition ceremony at the April 2025 Board of Education meeting.

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor 

ALABASTER – At the forefront of events in Alabaster City Schools stands a group of students with unparalleled school spirit, ready to cheer on their peers and show their Warrior pride—the ACS Spirit Squad.

Started by Nan Franks in 2016, the ACS Spirit Squad features cheerleaders from across Alabaster City Schools that perform at basketball games, football games, pep rallies and parades. The squad serves as an opportunity to give students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities.

“I’m just so proud of them,” ACS Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers said. “They represent us so well. It’s just such a great opportunity. We’ve been very blessed to have them perform at all types of events and they’ve done such a great job. I’m just so proud of them as a team and a squad and their sponsors are just as amazing.”

Every year, the ACS Spirit Squad works to learn a new dance routine as well as football and basketball cheers to bring out the community’s spirit at school events.

“The spirit squad helps our students learn life skills such as working as a team, building confidence while performing and increasing their social skills when they engage with their teammates, peers and coaches,” said Chelsea Shanks, a special education teacher at Thompson Intermediate school and ACS Spirit Squad sponsor.

Shanks said that cheerleaders from Thompson Middle School come to the squad’s practices to help with the dance and cheer routines and the cheerleaders also perform alongside them at some events.

During a meeting on April 14, the ACS Board of Education took the time to recognize the members of the ACS Spirit Squad for their efforts and expressed their gratitude for the work that they do. Every member of the squad was hand-delivered certificates by members of the board recognizing their outstanding school spirit.

The following students are cheerleaders on the ACS Spirit Squad:

• Aubrey Morgan
• Aria Harris
• Gianna Addison
• Stacie Grace Martin
• Kasyn Henderson
• Alayna Holifield
• Addison Armstead
• Addie DeRamus
• Lindley Reese Sweat
• Anson Lamoreaux
• Allie Lovell
• Julianne Minton
• Cara Conn

The following individuals are sponsors of the ACS Spirit Squad:

• Chelsea Shanks
• Katie Browne
• Abbi Addison
• Karen Evans
• Susan Mitchell
• Harold Mitchell

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