Dr. Shane Barnette
Superintendent

As we begin to feel the arrival of warmer weather, there is a renewed sense of energy and accomplishment across Cullman County Schools. This season brings not only sunshine and longer days, but also opportunities to celebrate the hard work and achievements of our students.

I want to congratulate our basketball teams on their championship victories and outstanding playoff runs. The dedication, teamwork, and perseverance displayed by our student-athletes and coaches represent our schools with pride. We also celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of our spelling bee winners and academic competitors, who continue to demonstrate excellence in the classroom. These achievements—both athletic and academic—are reminders of the talent, determination, and character found throughout our district.

As we move further into the second semester of the school year, I encourage all families to remain vigilant in supporting consistent school attendance—every instructional day matters. Regular attendance plays a critical role in academic success, and finishing the year strong requires focus, discipline, and commitment from all of us.

I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support our parents and families provide each day. Your partnership with our schools strengthens our community and helps ensure that every campus continues striving to be the very best it can be. Together, we are building not only successful students but also a stronger future for Cullman County.

Thank you for your continued support, and let’s look forward to a strong and successful second semester of the school year.

Dr. Shane Barnette
Superintendent
Cullman County Schools

Congratulations to Chloe Walker for winning the 2026 Cullman County Spelling Bee champion. Fairview Middle School 7th grader Chloe was the last student standing out of 23 of the area’s top spellers. We are so proud of all the participants who won at their school level!

Winning word: PINNACLE

Over the last two days, all of our students in grades 7-12 had the incredible opportunity to hear from Damon West as he shared his powerful message about Being a Coffee Bean. Students were challenged to think about how they respond to pressure and adversity — will they be changed by their environment, or will they change it for the better? Thank you, Damon, for inspiring our students to lead with character, resilience, and purpose. The impact of this message will last far beyond these two days! #BeACoffeeBean #cullmancountyfamily

We are incredibly proud to congratulate the West Point, Vinemont, Holly Pond, Good Hope, and Cold Springs Girls Basketball teams, along with the Cold Springs Boys Basketball team, on advancing to the Regional Tournament! This outstanding accomplishment is a testament to their hard work, determination, teamwork, and commitment throughout the entire season.

February 2–6 was National School Counseling Week, and we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to every school counselor in our district. Your dedication, compassion, and commitment to supporting our students academically, socially, and emotionally make a lasting difference every single day. We are truly grateful for all that you do.

CDC: Ginger Powell; CSE: Tiffany Davis; CSH: Amy Kinney; FVE: Candi Martin; FVM: Brittany Davis; FVH: Allison Plunkett; GHP: Mattie Looney; GHE: Jaycey Moore; GHM: Laura Rankhorn; GHH: Shawna Koch; HVP: Kristen Edge; HVE: Jessica Reeves; HVM: Jennifer Collins; HVM: Jennifer Collins; HVH: Candice Grochowalski; Harmony: April Kilgo; HPE Lauren Willis; HPM: Allyson Waldrop; HPH: Jenny Gay; Parkside: Kim Crumbley; VME: Lanza Willoughby; VMM: Brandy Jett; VMH: Christy Stephens; Welti: Tabatha Roberts; WPE: Lindsey McCaghren; WPI: Kelly Scott; WPM: Melinda Campbell; WPH: DeeAnna Key & Susan Lewis.

Congratulations to Hanceville Elementary for being recognized by the Alabama State Department of Education as one of the Top 25 schools for most improved over the last year. Congratulations, Mr. Taylor and the Hanceville Elementary staff for this amazing achievement.

Congratulations, West Point Intermediate! West Point Intermediate was recognized recently at our Board Meeting for having the highest state report card score in our district (94). Great work to Mr. Jones & the WPI staff for this amazing achievement.

Congratulations to the Good Hope, Fairview, Holly Pond, and West Point Cheer teams on qualifying for Nationals!

During January, the Payroll Department completed several important tasks, including finalizing and uploading W-2 forms to Employee Self Service.  For employees who did not elect to receive tax documents electronically, paper forms were put in the mail on January 23, 2026. 

In February, 1095-B forms were completed and uploaded to ESS for full-time employees.  For employees who did not elect to receive tax documents electronically, paper forms were sent to the schools through interoffice mail.

We want to extend a huge thank you to our Payroll Team for the incredible work they do behind the scenes every single day. From ensuring paychecks are accurate and on time to navigating deadlines, regulations, and countless details, their dedication keeps our district running smoothly. Their commitment, precision, and willingness to help never go unnoticed. We are truly grateful for the care and professionalism they bring to their work. Thank you for all you do to support our staff and our schools!

Congratulations to these Cullman County School counselors! All six were recognized at the Alabama State Board of Education meeting on Thursday, February 12. The Alabama School Counseling Program of Distinction honors school counseling programs that demonstrate exemplary implementation of a comprehensive, data-driven counseling program. This outstanding group is also expected to receive a similar award at the national level later this year in New Orleans. Congratulations on this accomplishment!

Pictured (L to R): Laura Rankhorn (Good Hope Middle), Kelly Scott (West Point Intermediate), Mattie Looney (Good Hope Primary), Jessica Reeves (Hanceville Elementary), Tiffany Davis (Cold Springs Elementary), Amy Kinney (Cold Springs High)

"On 10/2/2025, while responding to a suspicious vehicle call, a Cullman County Deputy encountered a subject who appeared to be under the influence and became aggressive while being assisted from the vehicle. As the deputy struggled with the subject, three students happened to be driving by after band practice and noticed what was happening. Without hesitation, they stopped and calmly stepped in to help the deputy regain control of the subject. Their awareness, courage, and willingness to help prevented the incident from becoming more dangerous. Adon, Isaac, and Tyler showed true character and leadership, and we are proud to recognize them with NASRO’s "You've Been Caught Doing a Good Deed" certificate for helping keep our community safe." SRO Blake Golden, Cullman County Sheriff's Office, Alabama.

Congratulations to Ella Dickerson, a senior at Cold Springs High School, on being named the Class 2A Region 6 winner of the prestigious Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Program award!

Ella will be honored at the Bryant-Jordan Awards Banquet on April 13 — a well-deserved recognition for an outstanding student-athlete who exemplifies excellence in leadership, character, and achievement.

This is a truly special honor for a very deserving individual. We are so proud of you, Ella!

Cullman County Schools will host a Child Nutrition Substitute Orientation Class on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. The orientation will take place at the Cullman County Board of Education, located at 402 Arnold Street NE, Cullman, AL 35055.

Individuals planning to attend are asked to sign up and pick up their orientation packet by March 17, 2026. Packets can be collected at the front desk of the central office.

For additional information, please contact Inez Malcom at 256-736-2422.

March 10th
ACT for
10th &11th
Grade Students

March 24th-26th
ACAP for
2nd & 3rd
Grade Students

April 14th-17th
ACAP for
4th-8th
Grade Students

Testing season is almost here, and we want our students to feel confident and supported. With a little encouragement and preparation at home, students can do their best and show what they know. Here are a few simple ways you can help your child feel ready for testing:

The Cullman County Basketball Tournament was a tremendous success, showcasing outstanding competition and incredible community support. We are especially grateful to Wallace State for generously allowing us to use their outstanding facilities. In addition to those who attended in person, the tournament reached a wide audience online, with over 86,000 views across 24 states and 5 countries through our streaming platforms on CCBOE.TV, highlighting the growing reach and impact of Cullman County basketball.

We’re sharing a revised calendar for the 2026–2027 school year. There is one change that will affect students.

Fall Break has been adjusted to October 16 & 19. We made this change to line up with the Cullman County Fair, which updated its dates after our original calendar was posted. As many of you know, we’ve traditionally scheduled fall break around the fair so students can attend.

We don’t anticipate any additional changes, but if anything else comes up, we’ll be sure to keep everyone informed.

Downloadable calendar PDF: https://www.ccboe.org/documents/calendars/16798191

March 10th - ACT for 10th & 11th Graders
March 13th - Report Cards Go Home
March 18th - CNP Substitute Orientation
March 24th - 26th - ACAP for 2nd & 3rd Graders
March 30th - April 3rd - Spring Break
April 14th - 17th - ACAP for 4th - 8th Graders