Hartselle and Morgan County schools shine as Lighthouse Schools of Excellence
rebekah.yancey @hartselleenquirer.com
Several schools in Hartselle City and Morgan County have recently been honored as Blue Ribbon Lighthouse Schools of Excellence. The schools were recognized at the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence (BRSE) annual conference, held Dec. 2-5 at Walt Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Florida.
Among the honorees was Hartselle Intermediate School, which achieved the distinction for the second time, having first been recognized in 2020. Serving fifth and sixth graders, the school was praised for its dedication to fostering a supportive and academically challenging culture. Schools awarded the Blue Ribbon Lighthouse status hold the honor for five years, demonstrating sustained excellence in education.
Principal Earon Sheats said remarkable improvements in stu- dent have been made in stu dent achievement across all grade levels.
“This achievement reflects the dedication, hard work and partnership among our students, parents and teach ers. Our theme this year is ‘You Belong Here,’ and it has become more than just a theme but rather a part of our school culture,” Sheats said. “Our teachers’ commitment to building relationships and creating a positive and engaging learning environment has inspired outstanding attendance rates, showing how much our students and parents value their time at HIS. What makes our school unique is our collaborative spirit, unwavering support from families, and our staff’s passion for nurturing each student’s potential. Together, we’ve created a culture of excellence that continues to shine brightly.” Dr. Brian Clayton, Superintendent of Hartselle City Schools, said a tremendous amount of effort building and growing the culture, which is built on character traits, leads to these achievements.
“The faculty, staff and administration, led by Earon Sheats, have a distinct perspective on the data, and that data drives the achievement of Hartselle Intermediate School,” Clayton said. “Hartselle Intermediate is very deserving of the Lighthouse School of Excellence Award by the Blue Ribbon Organization.” Schools in Morgan County also received recognition. Danville-Neel School, Priceville Elementary School, Union Hill School and the Morgan County Schools Technology Park were all honored for the second time. Meanwhile, Lacey’s Spring School earned its first recognition as a Lighthouse School of Excellence.
Dr. Tracie Turrentine, Superintendent of Morgan County Schools, expressed immense pride in the district’s accomplishments. “Schools in our district have achieved this recognition through a combination of strategic initiatives and a commitment to continuous improvement,” she said. “This honor reflects their dedication to excellence in education and has significant long-term impacts on students, teachers and the broader community.”
