UAB professor the new leader of education committee
By Melanie Patterson
The North Jefferson News
Education in Gardendale will continue to get better and better if one group has its way.
The Gardendale Education Committee has voted in a new chairperson and has committed to a new focus.
Dr. Melanie Crook began her one-year term as chairman of the committee in January. Crook and her husband, Todd, have five children in Gardendale schools.
“That’s why I was interested when this opportunity became available,” said Crook.
She is looking to ensure that all children in Gardendale schools have the tools to compete for college placement and future success. She said one way to do that is to work side-by-side with those who directly affect students.
“The bottom line is, we want to partner with teachers, counselors and administrators to facilitate whatever they need to help our children reach their full academic potential,” Crook said. “We want to work behind the scenes to promote teamwork between the schools and community.”
The committee has proven that by facilitating recent meetings: One regarding traffic issues at schools and another for students entering ninth grade. That meeting was hosted by Gardendale High School, in conjunction with Bragg and GHS PTAs, principals and counselors.
Crook’s focus also extends beyond school campuses. She wants to continue steering the education committee in the direction of becoming more community-oriented.
“We want to serve as a liaison between the city, citizens and schools,” she said. “We want to promote cohesion.”
Always at the top of the education committee’s list of priorities is the students, according to Crook.
She said that competition for college and university slots today is more fierce than ever.
The education committee is driven in part by making sure students succeed in upper-level programs like Advanced Placement courses and Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative.
“Our main goal is to prepare our children to succeed at the college level and at the life level,” Crook said. “We want them to be able to compete.”
Crook is an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry.
The Gardendale Education Committee consists of 13 committee members and six liaison members. Teachers and counselors serve as the liaison members.