Libby Returns to Madison City for Sixth Year(2017)

Today approximately 825 second graders and 900 fifth graders from Columbia, Heritage, Horizon, Madison, Mill Creek, Rainbow, and West Madison Elementary Schools came together at Bob Jones High School Auditorium to kick off the Super Citizen Program for their sixth 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 bus pulling up to the school, her exiting the bus and then, the real-life Libby walks 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 bus 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” DVD series). Upper elementary grades learn from the original Super Citizen Program kit that features DVD-based 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 including the Madison County Community Alliance, Wells Fargo, Toyota, BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama, Regions Bank, Lockheed Martin, Madison County Commission, COLSA, Aegis, Sam’s Club, Walmart, US Space and Rocket Center, Loretta Spencer, Senator Bill Holtzclaw, and the Madison City Council who understand that these crucial lessons must be taught – despite school time and budget constraints.