(RECORD PHOTO)

MADISON – It’s official. Bob Jones High School owns the title of Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS) Banner School.

Founded in 2001, the CLAS Banner School program endorses schools that demonstrate outstanding programs and go beyond expectations in service to students. A committee of experienced administrators identified schools for the CLAS award.

Horizon Elementary School also earned CLAS status.

Bob Jones Principal Robby Parker said the CLAS recognition stands above “many awards we try to win. CLAS looks at how innovative you are with programs. Bob Jones was one of only four (high) schools in Alabama to receive the CLAS award.”

Parker commended Dr. Julie Finley for compiling documentation and writing the proposal. Finley works as assistant principal for curriculum and instruction at Bob Jones. “Dr. Finley is an integral part of this award,” Parker said.

“Bob Jones High School, the largest high school in Alabama, marries their rigorous honors and advanced-placement courses with (relevant) Career Technical Education (CTE) clusters by making learning more meaningful and communicating co-dependence of core academic skills to real-world situations,” CLAS representative Leslie Dennis said.

Students’ schedules at Bob Jones offer “maximized lab experiences and project-based learning,” Dennis said. Student performance data and “whole group data comparisons” guide the curriculum. Bob Jones offers 28 honors and 24 AP courses.

In addition, the medical academy’s three branches give EMT, biomedical and health science training. “In the three-course Engineering for Tomorrow (E4T) Academy, students create blueprints, price estimates and three-dimensional drawings with formal presentations as capstone projects,” Dennis said.

CLAS continued to hail Bob Jones in “human services drawing students into fashion, interior design and culinary arts. World language offers six levels of French, Spanish, German and Latin. The arts deliver leveled courses in drama, technical theatre and production drama.”

Founded in 1969, the council serves 11 affiliates representing all types of public schools. CLAS connects school administrators with business professionals.

Parker and Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler will attend the CLAS awards luncheon in Montgomery this month.