Jacqueline Smith, center, accepts a scholarship from School Superintendents of Alabama and Chalkable, with congratulations from Robby Parker, from left, Carmen Buchanan, Jenny Scott with Chalkable and Dr. Dee Fowler. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Jacqueline Smith at Mill Creek Elementary School has received a scholarship for educational administration training from the School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA) and Chalkable, the scholarship sponsor.

At Mill Creek, Smith teaches fifth- and sixth-graders in the STEM lab (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Smith is one of only four teachers statewide to earn the scholarship from the association and Chalkable.

With the scholarship, Smith plans to pursue her degree in educational administration at the University of West Alabama.

The superintendents’ association provided $4,000 for scholarships to educators. Chalkable gave $9,000 for nine scholarships to students across Alabama.

Mill Creek Principal Carmen Buchanan praised Smith for working “tirelessly and unselfishly for our students” and for going “above and beyond” to create a classroom environment conducive to all learning styles. Buchanan said Smith stands ready to take her leadership skills beyond the classroom and to an entire school as an administrator.

“The major purpose of the School Superintendents of Alabama is to promote high quality public education in every community throughout the state,” association executive director Dr. Eric Mackey said. “These scholarships reinforce that mission by helping these high-achieving students become teachers and helping our leaders go back to graduate school too.”

“We are proud of these recipients and their commitment to quality in our schools,” Mackey said. “It takes investment to make good things happen, and this is an investment we are proud to make, along with our partner, Chalkable.”

Smith said her work in designing a challenging STEM curriculum at Mill Creek was “igniting” more passion for learning among her students. As a result, she increased her involvement in working at the district level to create resources to assist other teachers in implementing new standards for science with Alabama College and Career Ready Standards (ACCRS).

This involvement helped Smith realize the greater role she could have as an administrator, district public relations manager John Peck said. Directing Mill Creek’s extended day and summer camp program also influenced her decision to pursue a career in administration.