Empowering Education: A Comprehensive Overview of the Choctaw County Board of Education, Alabama
The Choctaw County Board of Education, situated in Butler, Alabama, is committed to offering a secure and innovative educational setting, enabling students to realize their utmost potential. In addition to its focus on academic excellence, the Choctaw County School System emphasizes community involvement and support services, including career and technical education, child nutrition, and special education. The Board also actively engages in professional development and provides opportunities for students to participate in various extracurricular activities and competitions.
Leadership and Vision
Mrs. James was sworn in as Superintendent of Education for the Choctaw County School System on January 3, 2023, after a successful campaign. She moved to Choctaw County in 1993. Before becoming an educator, Mrs. James was an accountant. She is a graduate of Faulkner University with a B.S. and she has an M.S. from Troy University. Mrs. James began her educational journey as a special education teacher at SCES. Next, she served as Principal until 2013. At that point, she was selected to head up the Special Education department for the Choctaw County School System. In March 2014 Mrs. James has been involved in education in Choctaw County for the last 25 years. She left the CCBOE in 2015, to run the Choctaw County branch of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), a division of Auburn University. After retiring from Auburn University in December 2021, Mrs. James has been recognized for her achievements in public education, having been named Teacher of the Week, Teacher of the Month, Teacher of the Year, and Principal of the Year.
Academic Excellence and Recognition
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.
In a remarkable demonstration of growth and dedication, Southern Choctaw Elementary School increased student scores by 15 points, earning recognition from the Alabama State Department of Education and advancing from a D to a B on the annual state report card. This achievement underscores the commitment to academic improvement within the Choctaw County School System.
Student Opportunities and Achievements
The Choctaw County Board of Education is dedicated to fostering opportunities for students to excel both inside and outside the classroom.
Read also: Empowering Futures: Choctaw Education
Congratulations to Caitlyn Goodwin, who signed to continue her volleyball journey at Wallace Community College in Selma!
Exciting news about one of our students at Southern Choctaw Elem. DJ Manuel recently had the opportunity to serve as a page for the Alabama State Senate from February 17-19, 2026. DJ has always had an interest in politics, and his mother, Mrs. Shaquondra Manuel, learned about the Senate Page Program through a local politician. She assisted him with completing the application process, and he was subsequently selected to participate. During his time in Montgomery, DJ experienced firsthand how our state government operates. He also had the honor of meeting Governor Kay Ivey and Senators Bobby Singleton, Rodger Smitherman, Merika Coleman, and Robert Stewart.
Infrastructure and Support Services
The Choctaw County School District operates four schools. As of the 2023-2024 school year, Choctaw County School District had 64.50 full-time classroom teachers. Instruc.
State Representative Brett Easterbrook sent a generous donation to support Choctaw County School System.
Mr. Ronny McRae, Mr. Joe Anderson, and Mr. Bobby Portis have done an outstanding job of keeping our buses running. The Alabama State Department of Education is required to check our buses for safety purposes each year. Give our transportation department a shout-out for 0 deficiencies during the inspection. The transportation department is often the unsung hero of education. Without the bus wheels turning, we cannot educate our youth. Along with recognizing Mr. McRae, Mr. Anderson, and Mr. Portis, we want to recognize our drivers and administrative staff. Thank you for all you do for our system.
Read also: Your Guide to Ocean County College
Desegregation and Legal History
In the past, the Choctaw County Board of Education faced challenges related to desegregation. A significant case involved the closure of the Melvin School, an all-Negro school, due to inferior facilities and educational opportunities compared to white schools in the county. The district court's order to close the school was affirmed, emphasizing the need for equal educational opportunities for all students.
The substantive issue in this case concerns the district court's order that the School Board of Choctaw County, Alabama, close the Melvin School, an all-Negro school. The record supports the district court's finding that: The physical facilities, equipment, and instructional materials available at the all-Negro Melvin School are inferior to the white and predominantly white elementary schools of Choctaw County. This school had, to wit, 81 students and three teachers in the 1966-1967 school year. On September 1, 1967, only two teachers had been employed although there were plans to secure one additional teacher in the event sufficient students enrolled, which in the judgment of the County Board, aside and apart from this decree, would justify keeping the school open. The evidence indicated that the number attending the Melvin School for the 1967-68 school year would be less than the, to wit, 81 who attended last year. In consideration of the size, the teacher personnel, and infeasibility of improving the Melvin School to the extent necessary in order for its education opportunities to be equivalent to those provided at the white or formerly white schools, the students presently enrolled at the Melvin School can be absorbed into other schools in Southern Choctaw County without creating conditions of overcrowding. Here the school board deprived students at Melvin School of educational opportunities to be found in other schools in the district. It is evident that when such a school has only Negro students, closing the school will promote desegregation. The order therefore is "reasonably related" to "accomplishing" the objective of conversion to a unitary system - "equal educational opportunities on equal terms to all." Jefferson II, 5 Cir. 1969, 380 F.2d 385. The district court properly ordered the school closed. See Montgomery County Board of Education v. Carr, 5 Cir. 1968, 400 F.2d 1; Lee v. Macon County Board of Education, M.D. Ala. 1968, 292 F. Supp. 363; 289 F. Supp. 975, 978. This is the easy case: Melvin School could not even have coexisted in 1896 with Plessy v. 537, 16 S. Ct. 1138, 41 L. Ed. 256. In Green v. 430, 89 S. Ct. 1689, 20 L. Ed. 2d 716 the Supreme Court held that the board's freedom of choice plan could not be accepted as a sufficient step to effectuate a transition. The decision was based, in part, on the existence of an all-Negro school, one of the two schools in the system. The Court pointed to the fact that not a single child had chosen to attend the Negro school in the three years the plan had been in effect; the Court made no reference to the quality of the school's facilities or faculty. This Court has said, "If in a school district there are still all-Negro schools * * * then, as a matter of law, the existing plan fails to meet constitutional standards". Adams v. Mathews, 5 Cir. 1968, 403 F.2d 181. See also Henry v. Clarksdale Municipal Separate School District, 5 Cir. 1969, 409 F.2d 682; Hall v. St. Helena Parish School Board, 5 Cir. 1969, 417 F.2d 801. See United States v. Choctaw County, 417 F.2d 838, a companion case to the instant case.
The appellants object to the district court's taxing costs against the Superintendent of Schools and the individual members of the School Board of Choctaw County. The character of a lawsuit, whether it is brought against persons in their official or private capacity, is determined by the nature of the pleadings. Even if there is no specific averment that the suit is against defendants only in their official capacity, that is the nature of the suit if it is clear from the allegations of the complaint. Lynn v. Clark, 254 N.C. 460, 119 S.E.2d 187 (1961); Giguere v. Rosselot, 110 Vt. 173, 3 A.2d 538 (1939); Reddy v. Johnston, 77 Idaho 402, 293 P.2d 945 (1956). Here the allegations of the complaint charge the superintendent of Schools and the Board members only in their representative capacity, and not as individuals. Massey v. Payne, 109 W.Va. 529, 155 S.E. 658 (1930). Moreover, in open court the attorneys for the United States and the intervenors have disavowed any intention of asking that costs be taxed against the individual defendants. The portion of the judgment below ordering Melvin School closed is affirmed.
Community Support and Resources
Choctaw County School District is a public school district in Alabama (Choctaw County). Choctaw County School District is a public school district in Butler, AL.
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
Read also: Empowering Osceola County
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Evaluating School Quality
These are some of the top-rated public schools in Choctaw County School District based on a variety of measures. Is this district offering opportunity for all its students, or leaving some kids behind? Rigorous courses can help students prepare for and get into college, including coursework in STEM subjects. Many successful high school students end up in remedial math courses in college. Is your student prepared for college-level math? Schools that create a positive culture help all students thrive. The education is good, but could be better. Facilities are up to par. I think that we have a wonderful school at SCES. Like many public schools, we have to do more with less but our teachers are dedicated, our parents are supportive, and our principal is strong with a…
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