Teachers participating in the F.E. Burleson faculty and staff retreat at Ross Resort in Hoover included, from left, (front) Lauren Langford, Jessica Hargett, Brittany Woodall, Shelly Carter, Jan Brewer, Debra Queen, Leah Turner, (second row) Sherry Terry, Mary McClanahan, (third row) Sherry Harrison, Sally Woodall, Ginny Carden, Danna Boudreaux, Debra Harvel, Tiffany Wells, Beverly Waldrop, Sarah Bragwell, (fourth row) Terry Hughes, Yulanda Hampton, Kim Crowe, Whitney Fulmer, Suzanne Mozley, Amy Wallace, Katie Davis, Sonya Preuitt, Tara Hamlett, Nicole McDonald, (back) Tina Towers, Lisa Morton and Sherry Calvert. | Special to the Enquirer

The faculty and staff members of F.E. Burleson Elementary School gathered at Ross Bridge Resort in Hoover for a retreat June 24-25.

The two-day retreat consisted of team-building strategies long with ways the staff can maintain overall enthusiasm for their student’s success all year long.

Plans were made for ongoing professional development required throughout the upcoming school year along with invaluable collaboration for the school’s 2014-15 educational theme. Past success and the rich tradition known to F.E. Burleson Elementary was celebrated with a renewed determination to focus on future excellence.

Teachers and staff members embraced the importance of coming together for this type of professional enrichment. Each teacher willingly paid for his or her own room and travel out of pocket.

F.E. Burleson Principal Sherry Calvert along with a few of the outstanding school leaders, Debra Harvel, Debra Queen, Tina Towers and Kim Crowe, were responsible for the presentations over the two-day retreat.