You may find the article as originally published at: https://www.woodcountymonitor.com/stories/blue-angels-help-ag-get-off-to-flying-start,166058
By John Arbter
woodctystringer@gmail.com
It was quite a dramatic scene. Following a ten-minute film of U.S. Navy Blue Angel highlights, out of the back of the stage stepped a line of Blue Angel aviators?!
No, actually they were the six Alba-Golden (AG) principals and assistants, but they certainly did no injustice to the uniforms – even the U.S. flag shoulder patches were correctly stitched onto the flight suits. The six then, in turn, described the values of the Blue Angel Demonstration Team and how Alba-Golden schools will be adopting those traits in the upcoming year.
It was an appropriate introduction to the 2025-26 convocation held Monday at the AG cafetorium. The guidance from the district to the gathered employees was simple, ‘Normalize Excellence’.
The Blue Angel core values of teamwork, integrity, commitment, respect and service highlighted the convocation. Organizer and AG curriculum director Megan Smith explained, “As we were searching for examples of groups who apply the values we cherish, we found that the Blue Angels share many of the very same traits.”
The stage was set for an impressive launch of the 2025-26 school year. Following a short briefing by each of the six ‘aviators,’ Superintendent Shelby Davidson took the stage to welcome all employees and to introduce the concept of normalizing excellence in everything undertaken by the district.
Karyn Margos of the AG Education Foundation then explained the successes of the newly-established foundation. She described the process for small and large teacher-requested grants as well as Helping Hands Grants.
Principals Pete Bell and Brittany Hall next recognized each new teacher in their respective campuses. There are six new teachers in the elementary and nine in the secondary school.
Mixed in those remarks was the disclosure that AG Elementary School has preliminarily earned a B rating from the state – the first time since the rating system has been in effect. Cheers for the elementary school were eclipsed by those for the secondary school as principal Hall announced that they have preliminarily earned an A rating.
Davidson next led a discussion of just how the staff will begin normalizing excellence in everyday activities at the school. His comments focused on building a nurturing environment, establishing effective and positive habits and routines, and taking ownership of every aspect of one’s day on the campus. He ended his comments with a piece written by a friend titled, “The Empty School Chair.”
Motivational speaker Michael Daggs wrapped-up the convocation with a thought-provoking presentation which focused on humility. Daggs, who is also the board president at Jim Ned ISD in Tuscola – just south of Abilene – used a combination of crowd involvement and storytelling to highlight the need for humility, humor and joy in education.
Judging from the enthusiasm of the crowd and the smiles, 2025-26 is off to a great start at Alba-Golden.