Commencement Exercises took place at Notasulga High School on Thursday, May 24, 2012.
Present were school board members, Superintendent Dr. Jacqueline Brooks, parents, friends and two special graduates, Mr. Willie Wyatt and Mr. Anthony Lee.
Mr. Lee and Mr. Wyatt were seniors in 1964 and integrated Notasulga High School. The school was destroyed by fire before graduation ceremonies. In a move spearheaded by Superintendent Brooks, Principal Sullen and Dr. David Wilson of Auburn University, Mr. Wyatt and Mr. Lee participated in Commencement Exercises. A third classmate, Mr. Robert Judkins, passed away some years ago. Congratulations to the 2012 graduating class of Notasulga High School!
Photographs courtesy of Mr. Leon Frazier.
The Graduating Class of 2012 at Notasulga High School will have two slightly older members joining them in their upcoming Graduation Ceremonies. Mr. Anthony Lee and Mr. Willie Wyatt will participate in a graduation ceremony that had been delayed nearly 50 years.
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of Dr. Jacqueline Brooks, Superintendent, Ms. Brelinda Sullen, Principal of Notasulga High School and Dr. Mark Wilson, Director of Civic Learning Initiatives at Auburn University, Anthony Lee, Willie Wyatt and Robert Judkins (now deceased) will receive their official diplomas from Notasulga High School.
In a celebratory event at the Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center in Tuskegee Al, a diverse audience heard living history, as Attorney Fred Gray recounted the genesis of the effort to desegregate the public schools in Alabama. Attorney Gray spoke of the challenges facing the legal effort and the strategy to overcome those challenges. Amazingly, Attorney Gray's presentation was interrupted by a note calling him away to a case in progress!
The audience was treated to a first-hand account by Willie Wyatt, who told of the trials suffered by the students and their families and the surprising turn of events, including the burning of Notasulga High School. No one spoke as everyone strained to hear every word Mr. Wyatt spoke.
Dr. Mark Wilson, presented an actual audio recording of the events surrounding the initial attempt to desegregate and the violence that occurred. It was shocking to say the least to hear the violence in actuality and jeers from the angry mob, almost 50 years in the distant past.
A question and answer period followed, with questions and comments from members of the audience. It was interesting to note that former would-be classmates were also present in the audience, who were in support of desegregation.
Civil Rights Legend Amelia Boyington Robinson, who was involved with the Selma to Montgomery March, and author of Bridge Over Jordan was also in attendance..
For more information and captions on the photographs, find us on Facebook, the Macon County School System.
You are cordially invited for some Holiday Cheer at Tuskegee Institute Middle School to celebrate this time of year!
Where: TIMS Auditorium
Date: Friday, December 16th
Time: 9:30 A.M.
Please come out to support our students on this wonderful day!
On this past weekend, Isis McReynolds, Nakia Sanders, Jean Schley, Kimberly Anthony, and Melvin Lowe attended a Robotics Training in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Each of these educators serves as a robotics' advisor for students at DCW and TPS. The workshop was part of a STEM grant via a collaboration between the University of Alabama, Tuskegee University, and Macon County Public Schools. The teacher training took place at Central High School which included other educators from across the state.
These educators enhanced their Lego Robotics programming skills, to include directional programming, sensor programming, manipulation of speed, and robot construction. All of these skills are taught within the Macon County Schools under the umbrella of its robotics' initiative. Robotics education has been a part of the Macon County curriculum scope since summer 2010; we are now STEM engaged and making much student progress.
There is a tremendous amount of talent among our teacher-educators. These and other teacher/student attributes would not have been readily identified without the leadership of Superintendent - Dr. Jacqueline A. Brooks. It was June 2010 that Dr. Brooks determined that robotics would be a worthy instructional improvement investment for Macon County. From this, the proof has been well noticed and is most responsive towards the student's instructional needs. Macon County currently has robotics instruction at 5 of its schools; BTW, TIMS, TPS, NHS, and DCW. In short, the grant has provided each educator who attended two Lego Robots with programming credentials to be used within their classrooms for STEM enhancement.
Please see the inserted link:
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20111113/NEWS/111119727/1007?p=1&tc=pg&tc=ar
Mrs. Jean. P. Schley and Ms. Nakia Sanders were featured in the Tuscaloosa News.