Cullman County Schools will soon be represented in classrooms across the country after two West Point student-artists received high marks in a national art contest sponsored by the Horace Mann Educators Corporation.

Horace Mann advertises itself as one of the largest financial services companies dedicated to classroom educators and school administrators. During the Cullman County School Board meeting Thursday, Feb. 15, local Horace Mann representative Greg Privett said one of the company’s more popular initiatives has been creating and delivering academic calendars to teachers across the country.

Rather than continue featuring mundane “corporate looking” graphics, this year students were given the chance to design the upcoming calendar’s cover in a national art contest.

Privett announced that West Point High School student, Aspen Sellers had placed third in the 9th-12th grade division and West Point Intermediate School student, Aliana Riggs had been selected as the overall winner of the 4th-8th grade division.

Riggs said her artwork, which depicts a teacher “watering” a student with flowers growing on their head at different stages of their life, represents the influence her teachers have had — and continue to have — on her growth as a student.

“It starts with me in elementary and then me now and shows me graduating. As she waters them, there are more flowers, so it just kind of represents how teachers help students grow,” Riggs said.

Both students had previously received $500 for their first place regional finishes. For her overall win, Riggs will receive an additional $1,000 from Horace Mann and $5,000 will be donated to her school.

In other business, the board:

• Accepted the following resignations: Kimberly Warren — Hanceville Elementary teacher; Mary Brewer — Hanceville High School TEAMS teacher; Teresa Adair — Vinemont Station Head; and James Parker — West Point Elementary teacher.
• Approved the conditional employment of the following personnel: Braxton Mann — Hanceville High School Math teacher; Donnie Holmes — Vinemont Station Head; and Karen Wilhite — Vinemont Elementary part-time reading intervention teacher.
• Approve the following substitutes: Carla Cain — office; Dorothy Conley — office; Frank Gingrich — office; Kinsye Jones — office; Rhonda Nall — office; Judy Schultz — office; Elizabeth Screws — office; Vicki Dovel — teacher; Amanda Kilgo — teacher; Tera Lee — teacher; Donald Nation — teacher; Laura Nichols — teacher; Joseph Palus — teacher; and Jeffrey Wynn — teacher.
• Added a West Point High School softball assistant supplement to Kevin Folds’ non-faculty contract.
• Removed a West Point Middle School baseball supplement from Cameron Bates’ non-faculty contract.
• Added a West Point Middle School baseball supplement to Isaiah Wylie’s non-faculty contract.
• Approved the following non-faculty coaches: James Scott — Fairview High School girls softball; Eric Pendley — West Point High School boys golf; Joshua Shannon — West Point High School boys soccer; and Sydney Carpentier — West Point High School girls soccer.
• Approved the request from Holly Pond High School to pay Jeffrey Horton $900 for concession stand duties.
• Approved the following before and after school tutors: Reilly Hood — Cold Springs Elementary; Leigh Baughn — Fairview Elementary; Tanya Douglas — Fairview Elementary; and Contrina Styles (Nurse) — Fairview High.
• Approved the out-of-state field trip request to allow the Hanceville High School band to see professional musicians perform in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. on April 12.
• Approved the out-of-state field trip request to allow the West Point High School scholars bowl team compete in the NAQT Tournament on April 5 in Chicago, Ili.
• Approved $84,850 for the paving of the Cold Springs High School track.

Approved the purchase of Do The Math intervention materials and kits from Heinemann.