SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Spanish Fort High School was just one of six high schools in Alabama that was chosen for the “Alabama Promising Practices Tour.”

Career tech administrators and supervisors from Alabama were invited to visit exemplary career tech school programs to get ideas for their programs, according to Holly Resmondo, a career tech administrator for Baldwin County. One program in each of the career tech areas to include business/agriculture/family and consumer sciences/technology was chosen.

“It is gratifying to be recognized by Alabama’s State Department of Education Career Technical Education on this Promising Practices tour,” FCCLA teacher Joni Ojard said. “The Family and Consumer Sciences program at Spanish Fort High School prepares students to live effectively as individuals, family members, and citizens, and to be a positive force within their communities.”

The school offers a variety of classes which focus on life skills and important life lessons in the areas of food and nutrition, problem solving, critical thinking, clothing and textiles, housing, child development, family relations,  self esteem, personal development, career exploration and decision making. 

Academics are integrated with basic life knowledge and skills to prepare students for the realities of higher education, lifelong learning, employment, and family life, Ojard said. The family and consumer sciences department at SFHS has three instructors: Ojard, Melissa Brown, and Dianne Bernasconi. The department offers courses to seventh through 12th graders in teen living, family, food, fashion, housing and parent and child dynamics. The department serves 250 high school students and 300 middle school students every year.

“This is the most supportive community you can imagine,” Principal Michael Lucci said.

The community has donated approximately $240,000 for purchases, Lucci said, and, the city of Spanish Fort donated $74,000 so each teacher could have an individual technological suite in a particular discipline and style.

Davis and Brown were to be commended for being role models for the children and because they also teach values, he said.

“There is a lot of emphasis on career tech,” Lucci said.

A plaque for the school was presented to Lucci by the State Department of Education.

“I am encouraged to see students take advantage of learning experiences,” said Dr. So Juan Crenshaw, career/technical education coordinator of the Department of Youth Services for school district 210. She said she has seen several good models on the tour, but what most impressed her the most was the leadership skills presented.

She said the family and consumer science classes help students get ready for a job and students learn to take pride in their work. Crenshaw said this is the first time for her to go on the three day tour.

FCCLA club members showed presentations to the tour group. FCCLA President Amanda Moseley gave a presentation on “Nutrition: Eat healthy to stay healthy,” for autistic children involved in Project Reach students. FCCLA Secretary Caroline DePuma and Vice President Emily Anusiewicz presented a project on Halloween safety which was presented to a kindergarten class in October. There are more than 220,000 nationwide FCCLA members.

“FCCLA has helped me become the leader I am today,” Jessica Alls, a former FCCLA officer, said.

Other schools on the tour were Benjamin Russell High School, Auburn High School, Vigor High School, Citronelle High school and Straughn High School.