First graders in Mrs. Haynes class Mallory Jeffers, left, and Landen Ledlow inspect apples and draw their findings in Mrs. Helton’s science class at Crestline. | Joy Haynes

Innovation, collaboration keys to  success

If you enter Barb Helton’s first grade science classroom at Crestline, it won’t look like your traditional classroom.

They aren’t just doing work with pen and paper and responding to a teacher’s lecture at the chalkboard. They’re learning about science in action.

“It is about helping the student make a connection with the subject we are learning,” Helton said. “If a student has a question, we will stop to answer that question right then.

“Just because this is science, doesn’t mean we don’t do anything else with science. We touch on every subject in this classroom, whether it is English, language, math or even history. Science is in everything.”

It’s that desire to help reach students that has helped Hartselle City Schools earn the attention of national education sites.

The latest to recognize the school system was Niche, which provides valuable data to families that are trying to select the best neighborhoods and communities to live in.

The blog recently recognized Hartselle City Schools as the eighth best school system in Alabama. Of North Alabama districts, only Madison City ranked higher at No. 6.

The school system received its highest marks for academics and sports and fitness with an “A” grade. The health and safety grade along with the resources and facilities grade both received an “A-minus.”

In addition to that, Hartselle High School was ranked No. 10 in the state, ranking behind Homewood, Mountain Brook and Auburn high schools. Hartselle also ranked ahead of Florence at No. 12, Cullman at No. 14 and Muscle Shoals at No. 19.

Hartselle Junior High School was No. 18 among the best junior highs in the state. They ranked behind nearby schools including Cullman at No. 15 and Muscle Shoals at No. 13.

F.E. Burleson and Barkley Bridge elementary schools ranked No. 30 and No. 35 respectively. Several school systems had multiple schools ranked ahead of Hartselle’s.

School Superintendent Dr. Vic Wilson told the Hartselle Board of Education that he was thrilled with the rankings.

“This ranking means more than most because of the detailed research that this website has done,” Wilson said. “We’re excited to be ranked where we are, and we’re going to find a way to move up next year.”

Crestline Elementary Principal Robin Varwig said one of the reasons why Hartselle’s educational rankings have improved is due to the collaboration and innovation throughout the system.

“Some of the high school math teachers were observing what we were doing in our classrooms to see how we are teaching math here,” Varwig said. “Teachers throughout the school system have been working together to improve the way that we teach.

“There’s also a push to be innovative and to find ways to reach our students to the fullest extent possible.”