Mr. Rice,
Thank you for your interest in the Pike Road Schools and your in -depth exploration of “The Pike Road Way.” It
has been an excellent year! As with any start-up school there have been expected bumps in the road, but have stayed focus
and continued to strive for excellence. We experienced a mass influx of students in our first year and were tasked with
finding creativeTH
ways
to Iuse
space. I believe
we were
I N K.
N NOVATE.
CR EATE.
T H Esuccessful.
PI K E ROAD WAY.
We were also able to overcome a lack of funding (due to the number of students enrolled) with strategic planning
and budgeting. I have visited the school on numerous occasions, both announced and unannounced, with Dr. Freeman and
without, to observe teachers, classes and exhibitions, etc. The learning taking place was excellent. With the new modular
March 13, 2017
classrooms and the new up-and-coming campus, I believe we are addressing the “space” issue head -on and looking into the
future in anticipation of school growth. Our future is bright.
To Whom
It with
Maythe
Concern:
Along
Mayor, Town Council and citizens themselves, the Pike Road Board of Education has been an
integral piece in the formation of PRS. Dr. Freeman helped train the 10 finalists that applied for a position on the board.
She facilitated the discussion during the training concerning issues such as starting a new school system, the role of board
members,
of administration,
teachers, etc.
the importance
of community
involvement.
The training
wasPike
The Pikeroles
Road
Board of Education
hasand
spent
the past several
weeks
meeting with
Town of
informative and insightful.
Road Mayor Gordon Stone, town council members, and other community leaders to ensure the
As a board, our job is to look at the big picture. The Superintendent handles the day -to-day business of the school
superintendent search process is conducted in a thorough manner.
and makes recommendations to the board for approval (i.e. vendor contracts, funding decisions, personnel, etc.).
Former State Superintendent, Dr. Ed Richardson created and led a committee to review all applications submitted
After
carefulof
consideration,
have
decidedvet
tocandidates,
extend the
application
deadline
for
the position
Superintendent,we
contact
references,
etc.superintendent
The board then had
an opportunity
to review the
applications and select the top three candidates to interview.
until April 21, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. It is our goal that this extension will allow for additional
As farfeedback
as our selection
Dr. ample
Freemantime
as Superintendent,
couldn’t be moretosatisfied
with her,
community
and of
give
for importantweconversations
help guide
ourand an
overwhelming majority of parents and the community who know what is really going on at the school as a whole agree.
decision.
also hope
candidates
willchildren.
take advantage
of this
learn morelove for
She
has beenWe
a blessing
to the that
Townpotential
of Pike Road
and all of our
She was hired
duetime
to herto
extraordinary
children
and her
outstanding
qualifications.
We were all aware of her time at Trussville and the circumstances surrounding
about our
school
system
and community.
her departure.
We are not trying to be “different” just for the sake of being different. We’re are looking at learning with a new
This is a
monumental
andthe
one
thatCouncil,
we do our
notparents,
take lightly.
Therefore,
candidate
approach
that
we all embracedecision
– the Mayor,
Town
our learners,
our leadeach
learners,
our citizens – the
Family that is the Town of Pike Road. With continued hard work and prayer, PRS will continue to excel and “create a
will be carefully vetted and we will make all efforts to ensure that we find the best
culture of intellectual curiosity where all students have ownership over their learning and are inspired to think, innovate,
and
create.”
superintendent
for our school system.
Thank you for taking the time to explore “The Pike Road Way.” God Bless.
Thank you,
Kindest Regards,
Raymond
(Ray)
Hawthorne, Jr.
RaymondJ. J.
Hawthorne
Pike Road Board of Education, President
Board of Education President
500 Avenue of Learning
Pike Road, AL 36 0 64
33 4.420.53 10
pikeroadschools.org