When the Alabama Association of School Boards hosts its annual awards luncheon Dec. 5, local school board members will be among the honorees.
Jerry Groce of the Russellville City Board of Education is a member of the 2015 All-State School Board. He, along with other school board members advancing in the AASB School Board Member Academy, a school for school board members, will be celebrated in the grand ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham.
“AASB commends Jerry for his exemplary boardmanship and for exemplifying the highest ideals of board service,” said AASB President Katy Campbell of the Macon County Board of Education. “He deserves recognition as do the 53 northwest Alabama school board members who have proven they understand the importance of growing and learning to improve their educational leadership skills. These education leaders know students perform better when their school systems are led by highly effective school boards.”
AASB has nine geographic districts. District 8 includes the Franklin County school board as well as the Russellville city school board.

Groce has been a member of the Russellville school board since 2004. With more than 256 training hours, he has reached Level III of the academy. Those who nominated him for All-State described him as a consummate educator and community leader. They spoke of the importance of his 16 years of experience as a city councilman and said he brought “invaluable knowledge and expertise’ in the areas of local funding and working with the city council.
Russellville Superintendent Heath Grimes described Groce as someone who “is an outstanding leader, organizer and is highly respected by his peers. His passion for serving students and his belief that every student can learn and deserves the best opportunity for learning, are what make him excel in his capacity as a board member.”
Judy Pounders, a fellow Russellville school board member, said Groce is a success story because “he chose to use his abilities and efforts for the good of his community, both in his career and through civic involvement.”
Russellville Mayor David Grissom called Groce a faithful community leader who “has worked diligently to provide the very best for the students in the Russellville School System.”
The awards program is a highlight of the Dec. 2-5 AASB Annual Convention, Orientation and Delegate Assembly.

Also recognized as achieving Level III of the academy were Bret Gist, RCS, Mike Shewbart, FCBOE, and Terry Welborn, FCBOE.