Hello Vestavia Hills families! I hope that you have had a great start to the school year. I want to share with you a few bits of information reflecting on last year and looking ahead to this year. Recently, our Board of Education approved our strategic plan, what we call The Vestavia Way. It is our vision for the future that we want for our students, employees, and the entire community.

The Vestavia Way is achievable when we take this journey together. What truly sets us apart is the spirit of partnership that extends into our community. Our ability to be visionary as a school system is directly tied to the strong relationships we have — with parents who are deeply engaged in their children's education, and with local businesses who invest in our mission and open doors of opportunity for our students. Last year, these partnerships resulted in unparalleled support for our students and teachers.

For example, did you know that PTO contributed over a half a million dollars to support our schools? And did you know that the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation provided $167,000 in grants for teachers to enhance learning experiences? The City Council partnered with us in many ways as well, including providing $1.2 million for improvements to spaces we share. Impressively, the financial commitment you and all Vestavia Hills residents make to live here means that we employed 115 more teachers than the state provided us. These and many other examples amplified our work and allowed us to move from vision to impact. 

I hope you will take the opportunity to look at our 2024-25 Annual Report that includes some of the impressive accomplishments of our students and schools. I want to highlight a few of those:

• A record-breaking year of $46 million in scholarship offers for the Class of 2025

• The highest number of National Merit Finalists in the entire state

• Advanced Placement scores for college credit which resulted in a savings of at least $2 million in college tuition costs

• Eight state championships in athletics, resulting in VHHS being recognized by MaxPreps as the #5 Best Overall High School Program in America; multiple state champions in the arts; and perennial state championships in academic competition

• And we’re not just focused on inspiring the mind — we’re also deeply committed to inspiring the heart by developing character and a love for service. Our schools are recognized as places where character matters. That commitment to service and instilling core values matter to our community. For example, last year, thousands of students raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charitable causes while also leading service projects that reach far beyond the walls of our schools.

Learning Without Limits is achievable when we experience this level of unparalleled support from our parents and community. For that, I say thank you for your commitment and investment in Vestavia Hills City Schools.