Russellville City Schools Superintendent Heath Grimes has been appointed to the Alabama State Department of Education Strategic Planning Committee on Reading.

This committee will evaluate core issues related to Alabama’s student achievement challenges, examine current content expectations for teachers, plan for the recruitment of talented reading teachers, compare Alabama’s content standards for students against those of the most educationally advanced nations, research promising models to raise student achievement and develop a plan to promote excellence in the teaching and learning of reading in Alabama.

Grimes, who is in his second year as superintendent at RCS, said he is honored to be selected to a group that will help shape the Alabama education system for the next decade and impact economic opportunities.

“It’s an honor to be chosen from the vast pool of excellent administrators and teachers in our state to help build the strategic plan for reading in Alabama,” Grimes said. “I’m hopeful that I can provide helpful insights and be a strong contributor to this plan.”

Grimes’ appointment to the committee will also be a benefit to RCS in terms of the knowledge and networking he will gain.

“Being a part of the committee will help me be aware of the trends and practices that are taking place across our state and nation,” he said. “It will make me more aware of research and best practices surrounding reading instruction. It also helps me to network with other educators from across the state who are excellent resources for RCS and our schools and teachers.

“Anytime you can be a part of the planning at the state level, you have a chance to influence the practices that work in our system in order to sustain them and have them supported,” he added. “I’m excited about the opportunity to help build a strong strategic plan for reading in our state. We have a strong plan in ARI already, and I look forward to supporting and supplementing this strong program that has proven very successful for our state in the past years.”