Pell City Schools @PCSchoolSystem

A huge congratulations to Dr. Jeff Samoranski for being recognized at the Alabama CTE Summer Conference in Mobile for earning his National Board Certification! 🎉 This is one of the highest professional distinctions an educator can achieve, and we couldn't be more proud to see Dr. Samoranski honored on a statewide stage. Pell City Schools is fortunate to have educators who never stop pushing themselves to be the best for our students. Way to go, Dr. Samoranski — this is well deserved! 👏 #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

Meet Mr. Jason Deason, Principal at Pell City High School! Mr. Deason's journey in education began as an exceptional education aide at Mountain Brook High School, followed by five years teaching at the Helen Keller School of Alabama. He went on to serve as assistant principal at Benjamin Russell High School and Chilton County High School before becoming Principal of Alexandria High School, where he led for four years. During his time there, the school earned its highest state report card grade in school history and improved for three consecutive years — accomplishments that earned him the 2022 District Six Principal of the Year honor, a spot as a Top 8 finalist for Alabama Principal of the Year, and induction into the Jacksonville State University Department of Education Hall of Fame. Before coming to Pell City, Mr. Deason served as the 12th Grade Principal at Hoover High School. He holds a bachelor's degree in Physical Education from Jacksonville State University, a master's degree in Instructional Leadership from Auburn University, and an Educational Specialist degree in Instructional Leadership from the University of West Alabama. Mr. Deason and his wife, Ashley, are the proud parents of two daughters, Sawyer Kate (9) and Olivia Grace (4). Outside of school, he enjoys spending time with his family, grilling, watching sports, and supporting student athletes and school events. Mr. Deason would like to tell the Pell City High School community “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve Pell City High School and the entire Pell City community. From the moment I arrived, I could see how much pride and potential exist within this school. My commitment is to bring stability, build meaningful relationships, support our teachers and staff, and always do what is best for our students. I am proud to be a Panther, and I truly believe the best days for Pell City High School are still ahead of us.” He quoted, "When we take time to know a student's story, we are better equipped to help them find their purpose." And we couldn't agree more! #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

Great news again for Pell City families! For the 2026–2027 school year, Pell City Schools will once again participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program. This means every student in our system can receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day at absolutely no cost to families. That's two free meals a day, every school day, for every student. No applications. No paperwork. We know how much of a difference this makes for our families, and we're honored to be able to offer it again this year. Just one more way Pell City Schools is working to support our students and the families behind them. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to our central office. #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

Start planning ahead! We've put together this year's school break schedule to help you plan family vacations and trips around the academic calendar while supporting consistent attendance for your student. Save this graphic and mark your calendars: 🏖️ Labor Day: 9/5 - 9/7 🍂 Fall Break: 10/10 - 10/13 🦃 Thanksgiving: 11/21 - 11/29 ❄️ Winter Break: 12/18 - 1/3 🎗️ MLK Jr. Day: 1/16 - 1/18 📚 In-Service Day: 2/13 - 2/15 🌸 Spring Break: 3/20 - 3/28 A little planning now means better attendance and academic success for your student! #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

The Pell City Board of Education held a Special Called Meeting this morning and approved two exciting items for our athletics program: The board approved a bid for improvements to spring sports facilities, awarded to Blalock Building Company in the amount of $7,274,900. The board also approved a contract with Cole Billingsley for baseball services. Our commitment to providing first-class opportunities for our students both on and off the field isn't slowing down. We can't wait to see these projects come to life! The next regular board meeting will be held on Monday, August 11 at 6:00 p.m. To view the full agenda, visit: bit.ly/4gNkpqf #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

School may be out for the summer, but big things are happening behind the scenes at Pell City Schools. In this month's Moment with the Superintendent, Dr. Justin Burns sits down with members of our Career Tech team to talk about something we're incredibly excited about — the new Pell City Center for Workforce Innovation. You'll get a look at the big picture and the details of what this facility will mean for our students. You'll also hear directly from two CTE students on how their time in our programs has shaped their perspective, taught them valuable life lessons, and made a lasting impact. This facility represents our commitment to giving Pell City students hands-on exposure to real workforce pathways — the kind that can lead to lifelong careers. And we're just getting started. #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

Our teachers don’t just show up — they lead the way. Several Pell City Schools National Board candidates attended the Alabama NBCT Network Boot Camp this week, participating in virtual sessions on Wednesday and in-person sessions at Thompson High School on Thursday and Friday. Even better, two of our own — Lauren Brascho and Sunni Wyatt — served as Drill Sergeants, leading sessions and helping educators from across the state through the process. This is what a commitment to excellence looks like. We are proud of every single one of them. #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

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The Pell City Board of Education will hold a Special Called Board Meeting this Monday, July 20 to approve a bid addressing capital improvements for Spring sports. 📍 3105 15th Ave N, Pell City, AL 35125 🕕 Board Meeting: 7:00 a.m. Thank you for staying engaged and supporting Pell City Schools! #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

Next up in our Principal Spotlight series is a leader whose journey has taken him from special education classrooms to a university provost's office — and now home to Pell City. Meet Brent Shaw, Ph.D., Principal at Duran Jr. High School! Dr. Shaw brings over 29 years of experience in K–12 and higher education, including more than 21 years in educational leadership. His career has taken him through nearly every seat at the table — special education teacher, assistant principal, principal, and even Provost (Chief Academic Officer) of a university. Dr. Shaw recently returned to the area from Georgetown, Texas, where he served as Provost and professor at Austin Christian University, in order to be closer to family. Now, he's channeling that wealth of experience into Duran Junior High, with a focus on school improvement and building a thriving school culture. He holds a Ph.D. in Leadership with an emphasis in Education from the University of the Cumberlands, where his research focused on cross-cultural leadership adjustment, along with an Educational Specialist degree from the University of Montevallo, a Master's in Educational Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University, and a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Carson-Newman University. Outside of school, Dr. Shaw treasures time with his family, along with hiking, traveling, and reading. He's also working on writing a book — and can even speak functional Portuguese! Using a travel analogy of his own, Dr. Shaw shared his vision for Duran: he wants it to be a destination, not just a connecting flight — a place where students and staff truly thrive, build community, and look back one day on how their time at Duran inspired them to grow into their best selves. Help us give a warm welcome to Dr. Shaw! #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

Here's a look at what happened at last night's Pell City Board of Education meeting! The board recognized several outstanding achievements across our system: Congratulations to Eden Elementary Librarian Megan Kreitlein for being awarded a $3,500 Sparklight Grant! Congratulations to Williams Intermediate students Izrabella Johnson, Alex Sorci, and Dominic Mitchell for winning the America 250 Inventions and Innovations Contest — these students toured the new Challenger Learning Center and took home a $50 prize! Congratulations to the Williams Intermediate Beta Club Robotics Team — Ryder Atwood, Price Beck, Hudson Mitchell, and Max Sudiarnamayasa — who recently represented their school at the National Beta Club Convention in Nashville. And congratulations to Jace Powell and Marie Sophia Kaplan on their Beta Club Convention achievements as well! On the personnel side, we're excited to welcome dozens of new faces to Pell City Schools as we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, along with several transfers and promotions across our schools. The board also recognized the retirements of Jill McCombs (Pre-K Lead Teacher, The Legacy Center), Marguerite "Margo" Curran (Law and Public Safety Instructor, PCHS), and Joyce White (Career Coach, PCHS). We appreciate everything these ladies and the many other retirees who have done so much for our school system throughout the years. We wish them the very best in their future endeavors. We're also incredibly proud to share that the system's annual audit came back 100% clean, with zero errors! This is a huge testament to the hard work, diligence, and integrity of our Finance Department. Their commitment to accuracy and transparency ensures our school system remains a good steward of every dollar entrusted to us. Thank you for your outstanding work! To view the full minutes, visit: bit.ly/3RAVuMg #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

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The Pell City Board of Education will meet tonight at the Pell City Board of Education office: 📍 3105 15th Ave N, Pell City, AL 35125 🕕 Board Meeting: 6:00 p.m. We encourage everyone who is able to attend in person; however, if you can’t join us, you can now watch online! Click the link below to stream the meeting, which will begin at approximately 6:00 p.m. 👉 m.youtube.com/live/NUA27iprf… Thank you for staying engaged and supporting Pell City Schools! #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

Mark your calendars! Pell City Schools and Convoy of Hope are teaming up for a Free Grocery Giveaway this Saturday, July 11 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Pell City High School. FREE groceries, FREE haircuts, family photos, a bounce house, and more — everything is FREE for your family. You don't want to miss out on this one! #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

Next up in our Principal Spotlight series is someone with one of the most unique roles in our system. When students from four different elementary schools come together under one roof at Williams Intermediate, it's her job to make it feel like home. Meet Mrs. Latoya Orr Threatt, Principal at Williams Intermediate School! Mrs. Threatt's journey in education is one that very few can match. A 1995 graduate of Pell City High School, she started her career as a Social Science teacher at Lincoln High School — where she had the unique opportunity to teach alongside her mother, Lenora Orr Godwin, for two years. She eventually returned to her alma mater at PCHS, where she taught World History, U.S. History, Government, Economics, and Psychology before stepping into administration as Assistant Principal for seven years. But her path didn't stop there. Mrs. Threatt spent nine years leading the St. Clair County Head Start program as Executive Director, followed by three years as Principal at Eden Elementary, and now serves as Principal at Williams Intermediate School. From early childhood to high school, she's done it all — and every step has shaped the leader she is today. She holds degrees from Alabama State University and the University of Alabama, and her involvement in the Pell City community runs deep — from the Pell City Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity to the Rotary Club and her lifelong church home at Freewill Church of God in Christ. Mrs. Threatt and her high school sweetheart, Eric, are the proud parents of three wonderful stepchildren: Tavian, Alexia, and David. In her own words: "Education is not only about helping students achieve academic success — it is about inspiring them to discover their potential, develop their character, and pursue their dreams with confidence." We couldn't agree more. #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

Today we celebrate 250 years of enjoying the freedoms that so many men and women have fought to protect — the freedom to learn, to grow, and to dream about what's next. Happy Fourth of July from Pell City Schools! 🇺🇸 #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools | #FourthOfJuly | #IndependenceDay

Our Meet the Principal Spotlight series continues with Mrs. Tonya Helms, Principal at Walter M. Kennedy Elementary! Mrs. Tonya Helms proudly serves as the Principal of Walter M. Kennedy Elementary School, where she is committed to fostering a positive school culture, promoting academic excellence, and ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed. With more than 20 years of experience in education, Mrs. Helms has dedicated her career to supporting student achievement, empowering teachers, and building strong partnerships with families and the community. Throughout her career, Mrs. Helms has served in a variety of instructional and leadership roles, including Assistant Principal, Local Reading Specialist, Title I Intervention Teacher, and classroom teacher in both first and third grades. These experiences have provided her with extensive expertise in curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, school improvement, and data-driven decision-making focused on student success. Mrs. Helms earned an Educational Specialist Degree and a Master’s Degree in Instructional Leadership from Jacksonville State University. She also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Florida Southern College. As an educational leader, Mrs. Helms believes that all students can achieve at high levels when provided with a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment. Her leadership philosophy is centered on collaboration, innovation, and high expectations, while building meaningful relationships with students, staff, families, and community stakeholders. Outside of school, Mrs. Helms enjoys reading and traveling with her family. She is honored to serve the students and families of Walter M. Kennedy Elementary School and remains dedicated to preparing every learner for future success. #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools | #IamAKennedyKid

Pell City Schools is looking for bus drivers! We're in search of reliable, caring individuals to help get our students to and from school safely every day. If you or someone you know might be interested, we'd love to hear from you. Learn more and apply here: bit.ly/4ekdGlQ #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

Did you know? The Pell City Schools website is full of resources designed to help our parents and families stay informed and connected. From important forms and contact information to helpful resources and more — everything you need is just a click away. 📲 Visit us here: pellcityschools.net/85043_1 #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

The Pell City Board of Education will hold a Special Called Board Meeting tonight, Tuesday, June 23. 📍 3105 15th Ave N, Pell City, AL 35125 🕕 Board Meeting: 6:00 p.m. We encourage everyone who is able to attend in person; however, if you can’t join us, you can now watch online! Click the link below to stream the meeting, which will begin at approximately 6:00 p.m. 👉 youtube.com/live/SQ9u6C3pg… Thank you for staying engaged and supporting Pell City Schools!

Meet Mrs. Tabitha Surles, Principal at Eden Elementary! Mrs. Surles has worn just about every hat you could think of — PE teacher, coach, intervention teacher, technology specialist, classroom teacher, assistant principal, and now principal. From Coosa Valley Elementary to Duran Junior High and from Pell City High School to Eden Elementary, she's served at every level and understands firsthand how educators impact students both inside and outside the classroom — and she's definitely no stranger to the Pell City community. Now completing her second year leading Eden Elementary, Mrs. Surles has made her priorities clear: attendance, academic growth, student engagement, and building a culture rooted in kindness, respect, and high expectations. The results speak for themselves. She's a Jacksonville State University graduate and recently completed the Alabama New Principal Mentoring Program through CLAS. Outside of school, she and her husband Kevin stay busy with their three children — Riley, Lenzi, and Cam. When she's not on campus, you'll probably find her kayaking, sitting by a campfire, or planning the next family trip. Her favorite quote says it all: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." — Maya Angelou We agree with Mrs. Surles — Eden Rocks! #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools

Happy Father's Day from the Pell City School System! Our students are better because of you! #WeArePC | #PellCitySchools | #FathersDay