Innovator

The Science Of Math

Dr. Blair's collaborative approach has garnered not only attention but also fiscal and human resources from the state level. The unique challenges of leading a rural school system require leaders to think creatively to ensure students have what they need compared to their peers in more urban and suburban settings. For example, collaborating with state legislators, the Alabama Rural Learning Accelerator (ARLA), powered by the National Math and Science Initiative, was developed and implemented in his school system. The program pairs high-quality math and science instruction with rural districts unable to recruit certified subject-matter experts to their schools. Governor Kay Ivey said the pilot "demonstrates Alabama's commitment to innovation across all facets of education and economic development."

Ballot Power

In March 2020, Bullock County voters passed a new three-mill ad valorem tax referendum. The additional revenue generates approximately $350,000 per year for the school district. Over 70% of the voters supported the referendum, including 80% of renters. Since the passage of the new tax, the district has renewed its entire bus fleet with the purchase of 12 new, air-conditioned buses with pre-installed pre-kindergarten seats and two special needs buses.

Solutions Oriented

Dr. Blair is at the forefront of literacy issues facing rural Alabama students. His leadership as the Alabama United Education Committee chair provided Black Belt districts with another tool in the toolbox. The committee collaborated with the Alabama Department of Education to design the Alabama Black-Belt Innovative Literacy Initiative - Transforming Youth (ABILI-TY) pilot in response to the state literacy crisis. With the formation of a comprehensive adolescent literacy and study skills pilot, this project seeks to provide equitable access to professional learning

and coaching for teachers and evidence-based instruction and intervention for students. Thanks to funding from Governor Kay Ivey, the initiative received $3.6 million over three years and is supported with in-kind contributions from ALSDE. This work will impact seven LEAs and 11 schools in year one, including South Highland's Middle School in Dr. Blair's current district. The program yielded improved reading scores for South Highland students in the inaugural year.

Support From Within

As a veteran educator, Dr. Blair sought to improve student outcomes by getting to the issue's root. After visiting out-of-state, large urban school districts and with officials from the Harlem Children's Zone, while working with Montgomery Public Schools, he conceptualized an approach to partner with and support school leaders from the district level. Called the "Central Support Team" model, the approach provides cross-functional support at the district level to school-level leadership teams, where the unique needs of a particular school match the level of support. Assistance provided could be in any of the three following categories: leadership, instructional support, and operational support. Meanwhile, in Bullock County Schools, this approach saw results for students as the system's achievement scores rose a grade level as measured by the Alabama Accountability Act.