Education Corner: RCS offers something for every student
Features, Lifestyles, Z - TOP HOME
 By  Staff Reports Published 
11:32 am Thursday, January 12, 2023

Education Corner: RCS offers something for every student

Franklin Living January-February 2023

Since school began in August, we have been able to enjoy cheering on our fall athletic teams; watching great performances from our performing arts department, which includes our band, choral and theater groups; experiencing two great community-involved programs, the Hispanic Heritage Program and Veterans Day Program; and celebrating academic achievements at all of our schools. 

We also celebrated two major accomplishments at RCS: the first being our district receiving an overall “A” on the Alabama State Department of Education Report Card for the very first time and the second being the national recognition our district received because of the amazing English language instruction in our schools. These are two things I have been extremely proud of – and our community can be proud as well. 

With all the recognition in these areas lately, I wanted to make sure our community is aware of the other specialty programs we offer, too.

Our RCS Fine Arts Department doesn’t just encompass our high school students. It starts at the elementary level with Emily Rush, music teacher at West Elementary, and Lauren Ritter, music teacher at Russellville Elementary. These two ladies give our younger students a glimpse of what it’s like to study music, which helps spark their interest in fine arts. This specialized learning continues at the middle and high school levels with Aaron Freeman teaching choral classes; Jeremy Willis, Scott Stephenson and Kyle Clements teaching middle and high school band; and Patrice Smith teaching theater. Additionally, our traditional art classes, taught by Melissa Grissom, offer a way for those interested in drawing, painting, sculpting and other art expressions to hone those talents.

In another area of excellence, Liza Scott is doing great things with our Gifted and Talented program at RES. She creates lessons to challenge these students and nurture their abilities and talents, which leads them to being even more prepared for rigorous coursework and achievement as they get older. 

Our AP and honors teachers continue to prepare our students for higher learning through a wide range of courses and specialized lessons. Our RCS Career and Technical Education classes, as well as our student organizations, offer a way for every student to find training and collaboration opportunities for the career path of their choosing. 

We have something for every student at RCS, from pre-K students all the way through our seniors. It’s one of the things that makes me so proud to be part of this system – the desire to make sure every student is receiving the best education possible.

___________________________________________________________

Heath Grimes is superintendent of Russellville City Schools. He and his wife Amy have three daughters: Leah, Halle and Erin.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025