Today second and fifth grade elementary students from Bankhead Middle, Cordova Elementary, Parrish Elementary, Curry Elementary, Curry Middle, and Valley Junior High School came together to kick off the Super Citizen Program for 2026-2027 School Year. They waved flags, wore Statue of Liberty crowns and counted down for Libby Liberty™ to take the stage. On three huge screens “live video” shows her Next Great Americans tour pulling up to the school and then the real-life Libby walked out from behind the screens!
The lady in green brought history to life and introduced students to the 10-week civic, character, financial literacy and social studies program they will begin when her tour rolls away. She told them that they already have the most important title in the world: “CITIZEN.”
Students in multiple grades are participating in the Super Citizen Program. The younger grades are taught by an innovative civic education program starring Mr. Palmer (the hand-puppet host of the “Hands on Liberty” series).
Upper elementary grades learn from the original Super Citizen Program kit that features lessons, class activities and the emotional, unforgettable “Torch Teams” project-based learning experience. In Torch Teams, students team up, nominate, vote for and, ultimately, honor local heroes from stage at their graduation later this year. They learn that “When you honor a hero, you become a hero.”
Today’s event and the injection of civic learning is free to schools because of generous community sponsors who understand that these crucial lessons must be taught despite school time and budget constraints.
Were you at the event? See the photo gallery below to find yourself, to revisit the magic or watch it unfold for the first time >
- Walker County Schools students gathered today to meet Libby Liberty™!
- Walker County Schools students and teachers ready for their kickoff!
- Excited to meet Libby!
- Ready to Kick Off Their Super Citizen Program!
- Jantzen and Ryder lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Libby Liberty™ makes her entrance to reveal her true name: “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
- Libby’s mouth is 3 feet long, about the length of an electric guitar!
- Libby’s nose is about the height of the average 5th grader, or Harry Potter?!
- Her finger is 8 feet long or about the size of an entire car!
- Libby reveals her 879 inch shoe size.
- From the ground to the top of her torch she is about the length of a football field!
- She isn’t green like Shrek, she turned patina through a process called oxidation.
- Libby’s torch is what lights the way to freedom.
- Do you know what’s written on Libby’s tablet? Here’s a hint: It’s the date of American Independence!
- In the workshop, the artists worked on all the different parts of Libby! They put her together piece by piece, like the most gigantic Lego structure EVER!
- Auguste Bartholdi gifted Libby to the United States of America to celebrate our 100th birthday!
- Libby shares Martin Luther King, Jr’s hope that Americans will be judged “not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
- Libby shares the iconic poem “The New Colossus.”
- “I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” –Emma Lazarus
- Libby leads the students in showing their appreciation for everyone who made the event possible!
- You ARE The Next Great Americans!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- Libby’s helpers do a great job showing everyone the moves to “YOU in the USA!”
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- Waving their flags in song and celebration!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- U.S.A.!
- Libby loves seeing students excited to sing along to her tour anthem!
- U.S.A.!
- Libby loves getting the students excited to sing her tour anthem!
- We can’t thank Superintendent Dr. Dennis Willingham and Melissa Privett from Bankfirst enough for their role in shaping the Next Great Americans!
- Libby loves getting pictures with real-life Super Citizens and Community Leaders!
- Libby Liberty™ + Melissa Privett with Bankfirst = a great Liberty moment!
- The Next Great Americans of Walker County Schools!
- Walker County Schools students are excited to begin their Super Citizen journey!
- These amazing Walker County Schools students are ready for an exciting Super Citizen adventure!
- Libby Liberty™ loved meeting these incredible students from Walker County Schools!
- Nothing but smiles from these amazing Walker County Schools students!
- Libby Liberty™ poses with these awesome Walker County Schools students after the kickoff!
- These incredible students are ready to learn and grow throughout their Super Citizen journey!
- Libby had a blast visiting with these amazing Walker County Schools students!
- Walker County Schools students are excited to see what their Super Citizen journey has in store!
- Big smiles and lots of excitement from these Walker County Schools students!
- The Official Libby Liberty™ Selfie!














































