Decatur City Schools - Alabama

🚨JOB OPENING🚨We are looking to hire a full-time Middle School Gifted Teacher.

Do you thrive in a classroom full of big ideas, clever humor, and endless curiosity?

Decatur Middle School-Decatur, Al is hiring a Middle School Gifted Teacher! Our students are bright, inventive, and wonderfully unique - and we're looking for an educator who believes learning should inspire wonder and embrace individuality.

Enjoy curriculum flexibility, project-based learning, and a team that values creativity as much as challenge.

Middle school is a pivotal stage where students begin discovering who they are and where their interests lie. As a gifted teacher at Decatur Middle School, you'll love fostering critical thinking and building meaningful relationships through learning.

If this sounds like a good fit, we'd love to meet you!

🔗 Apply at: www.dcs.edu
Click on JOBS under the photo gallery, then click HireTrue to view and apply for this position.

Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce

Partner-in-Education Breakfast Success!

Last Thursday, team members from Athens State University gathered at the DoubleTree Inn with school representatives from Decatur City, Hartselle City, and Morgan County for our annual Partner-in-Education Breakfast.

It was a fantastic morning of fellowship and shared vision as we celebrated our strong local partnerships and discussed new ways to support students and educators across North Alabama.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and for your continued dedication to advancing education in our communities!

YOUR FUTURE STARTS NOW: What a fantastic turnout!

Thank you to all the rising 9th and 10th-grade students and parents who joined us this evening for the summer edition of our Create a Scholarship Portfolio Workshop! Big thank you to Mrs. Mary Ann Hotaling for pouring her knowledge and skills into our students futures.

We had an incredible crowd in the 4th Floor Board Room as our students took big steps to Plan, Prepare, Present, and Stand Out for their academic futures.

A huge thank you to everyone who registered and helped make this event such a resounding success.

We love seeing our community so dedicated to student success!

Stay tuned for future workshops and events!

LOCKDOWN UPDATE: Today's alarm malfunction, which prompted a temporary lockdown at AJHS and CAD, was caused by ongoing roof and construction work on the "M" building at AJHS. We are aware of the problem and working to address it.

Austin Junior High School - Decatur City Schools
Career Academies of Decatur

PLAN. APPLY. ACHIEVE. YOUR FUTURE: Ready to take the next step toward your future? Join us for Application Mondays throughout August and September! Get hands-on help navigating college applications and preparing for life after high school.

✅When: Every Monday through August & September
✅What: College application assistance and post-secondary guidance
✅Contact: Reach out to Mrs. Hotaling to schedule a time or to ask any questions.
✅Email: [email protected]

Your future starts with one application—we're here to help every step of the way!

CELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS: At last night’s Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Douglas recognized several outstanding students from Austin High School and Decatur High School for their selection and participation in Alabama’s Girls State and Boys State programs!

Austin High School - Decatur, Alabama
➡ Girls State: Laura Mize
➡ Boys State: Josiah Church, Ethan Robertson, William Silcox, Benjamin Sowell

Decatur High School- Decatur, Al
➡ Girls State: Miriam Matthews, Sarah Mitchell

Congratulations to these student leaders for representing our schools and community with excellence!

HONORING A HISTORIC LEADER

At today’s Decatur City Board of Education meeting, the board passed an official resolution honoring the life and legacy of Mr. Collis Hansel Stevenson, who passed away on August 4, 2026, at the age of 93.

Following a federal court order to integrate Decatur City Schools in 1974, Mr. Stevenson became the first Black American to serve on the Decatur City Board of Education.

He provided many years of unwavering service to Decatur City Schools and the broader community.

Board Resolution: Adopted on August 11, 2026, by Board President Michele Gray King and Superintendent Dr. Michael Douglas, the board officially recorded its deep sympathy and appreciation for his monumental contributions.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and celebrate the lasting impact he made on our community.

Accepting the resolution, his son Kirby Stevenson and wife Dr. Shelia Nash-Stevenson.

SOMEWHERE IN TIME: Decatur City Schools is celebrating the rich history of our schools!

At this afternoon’s school board meeting, Vice-President Peggy Baggett presented Decatur High Principal Dr. Randall Fullington with a collection of donated historical memorabilia from the Neill family. The donated items include vintage Decatur Junior High materials, original athletic jackets, and classic game programs dating back to the 1970s.

These sentimental keepsakes highlight the deep tradition and lasting pride of our students and community across generations.

DCS hopes to showcase these historical items to inspire current and future students by connecting them to our community's rich heritage.

Stay tuned—Austin High School will be recognized at the next board meeting!

Decatur High School- Decatur, Al
Austin High School - Decatur, Alabama

Please see the personnel agenda approved by the Decatur City Schools Board of Education.

🔗 https://aptg.co/f7-1kk

MENTAL HEALTH MINUTE: Welcome Back to a New School Year!

As Decatur City Schools dives into the 2026-27 academic year, prioritizing mental wellness is just as important as packing a backpack. School transitions can bring up a mix of excitement and anxiety.

Here are tailored, actionable strategies to support your student's emotional well-being from K–12:

Elementary School (Grades K–5): Co-Regulation & Routine:
Younger children experience anxiety physically and often need help regulating their nervous systems.

What to Look For: Frequent stomachaches or headaches, regression in potty training/bedtime fears, or extreme clinginess at drop-off.

Action Steps:
✅Practice "Take 5" Breathing: Trace a hand, inhaling tracing up, exhaling tracing down.
✅Normalize Feelings: Remind them: "It is completely okay to feel excited and nervous at the same time."
✅Build Predictable Rhythms: Keep bedtime, wake-up, and screen-free hours consistent every day.

Middle School (Grades 6–8): Identity & Belonging
Early adolescents navigate hormonal shifts, peer pressure, and a deep desire to fit in.

What to Look For: Social withdrawal from family, drastic changes in hygiene/style/friend groups, or oversensitivity to criticism.

Action Steps:
✅Low-Pressure Check-ins: Talk while driving or cooking so they don't feel put on the spot.
✅Ask Open-Ended Questions: Try asking: "What was the most surprising part of your day today?"
✅Enforce Digital Curfews: Collect phones 60 minutes before bed to protect vital sleep.

High School (Grades 9–12): Stress Management & Autonomy
Teens juggle heavy academics, future planning, and complex social dynamics.

What to Look For: Chronic fatigue, dropping hobbies/sports they used to love, or expressions of hopelessness.

Action Steps:

✅Prioritize Sleep: Ensure 8–10 hours per night; a tired brain cannot manage stress effectively.
✅Model Coping Skills: Let them see you manage stress productively (exercise, taking breaks).
✅Offer Choices: Allow them to lead conversations regarding their schedules, goals, and boundaries.

Checklist for All Grades
Connection: Attend open houses, discuss peer groups, and connect with school counselors.

Physical & Mental Health: Schedule pediatric check-ups and mental health screenings.

Hydration: Encourage daily hydration goals with a reusable water bottle.

Resources & Support Corner
Free Literacy Toolkits: Explore classroom-ready mental health curricula via NAMI Back-to-School Resources.

Bullying Prevention: Access specialized support networks through the Mental Health Association of Central Florida.

Crisis Text Line: Remind students that free, confidential support is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.

Questions or Need Additional Support?
Contact Decatur City Schools Mental Health Service Coordinator:
👤 Janice Vest, LPC-S
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Phone: 256-552-6410