Mobile County Public Schools students, educators, schools and community partners were recognized for "Defying Gravity" at the 12th annual Learning Leading Awards at Murphy High School.
The four countywide Learning Leading Award winners and all 90 of the school system's Learning Leading Award winners received special recognition during the ceremony, which had a Wizard of Oz theme. The four countywide winners are Rylan Besaw of Gilliard Elementary, Anniston Byrd of McDavid-Jones Elementary, Benjamin Stringfellow of Phillips Preparatory and Farah Hujier of Davidson High.
The evening included many special moments, but one of the most poignant was Superintendent Chresal D. Threadgill's acceptance of the award for the district's highest State Report Card score ever, an 83/B. He invited representatives from a variety of departments and Board of School Commissioners President Sherry Dillihay-McDade to join him on stage as a way to emphasize that the grade was a shared achievement and a tangible result of #TeamMCPSS working together.
MCPSS celebrated the Class of 2026's record scholarship earnings of $1.1. billion, which was a result of hard work by high school counselors and a new scholarship match program called Alabama Possible.
Community partners that were highlighted include:
Mobile Chamber
Alabama Representatives Barbara Drummond and Chris Pringle
Dr. Carl Cunningham, Jr.
Mobile Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Four MCPSS schools were recognized for being among the top 25 schools in Alabama: Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies, Council Traditional School, Eichold-Mertz School of Math, Science and Technology, and Old Shell Road School of Creative and Performing Arts.
The MCPSS Finance Division received an award for its continued success in managing the district's budget, including clean audits and an increasing reserve fund.
The three countywide Teachers of the Year, Dr. Chelsea Tanous of Davidson, Daniela Yunker of Barton Academy and Jennifer Asbury of Council Traditional, were also honored during the ceremony.
And 21 new National Board Certified Teachers were recognized as well.
The Murphy High Four Arts performers kicked off the festivities by introducing Superintendent Chresal D. Threadgill during the opening number, "Emerald City Ballet." The students also performed musical numbers from "The Wiz," "The Wizard of Oz" and "Wicked." Morgan Zaborney, a senior at Baker High, served as the event's student host, along with host Rena Philips, MCPSS Director of Communication.
mcpssTV filmed the ceremony and will air it on the district's 24-hour channel as well as the mcpssTV YouTube channel. Mobile County Public Schools is also featuring the Learning Leading winners from all of our schools on Facebook, Instagram, and in the next issue of Learning Leading magazine.