Today, 2nd graders from Myrtlewood Elementary, Big Sandy Elementary, Lake View Elementary, Vance Elementary, & Cottondale Elementary filled the Northport Intermediate School Gymnasium. After finishing 10 weeks in the Hands on Liberty Program, they are gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and honor local heroes from the stage.
Thanks to Mr. Palmer and his very hands-on teaching, these students have begun learning about their important roles in America’s future. The “Hands on Liberty” series and accompanying activities and lesson plans teach crucial lessons in civics, character, financial literacy and social studies to a tech-centric generation. And in the closing piece of the program, Helping Hands, students are applying those crucial lessons in the real world.
Students chose heroes who embodied the traits of amazing citizens and read essays from stage before presenting them with Liberty Pins. They learned that “when you honor a hero, you become a hero!”
See heroes honored and a glimpse of the exciting event in the gallery below!
Today’s event and the donation of Super Citizen teaching kits was made possible by the Tuscaloosa County Community Alliance. With their help, we are teaching, inspiring and empowering our Next Great Americans.
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 >
- Showing off their Helping Hands Graduation Certificate!
- These Tuscaloosa County students are excited to honor their heroes and get their Hands on Liberty graduation certificates!
- Excited to celebrate, honor heroes, and take their pledges!
- Tuscaloosa County students & teachers are excited to celebrate!
- Amir, Makynzie, Ivyana, Kayden, & Evan lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Myrtlewood 2nd graders honor their custodian, Brandy Boswell as their Helping Hands Hero and Lilah tells us all about her.
- Lake View Math Coach, Jessica Moore is honored by the 2nd graders as their Helping Hands Hero. Levi tells us all about her!
- Earl tells everyone all about why he and his friends at Lake View chose their reading coach, Amanda Shuttlesworth as their Helping Hands Hero.
- Lizzie Johnson has shown Vance Elementary students what a true hero looks like, and Grace tells us why they chose her as their Helping Hands Hero!
- Axel tells everyone all about why they chose their custodian, Marvin James as Cottondale’s Helping Hands Hero and all he does for their school community!
- Big Sandy students chose Coach Sherrod Hines as their Helping Hands Hero. Ashton & Kingston tell us all about him.
- Jayliah tells us all about why
- Matthew & Zariah share all the reasons why Tyler Bailey is a Big Sandy Helping Hands Hero.
- Sam shares with everyone all about Will Joy and why Big Sandy 2nd graders chose him as a Helping Hands Hero.
- Big Sandy 2nd graders chose Stephanie Parsons as a Helping Hands Hero and Olivia tells us all about her!
- Super Citizens lead everyone in our tour anthem.
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- U.S.A.!
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- Students and teachers alike singing along to our tour anthem!
- Waving their flags in song and celebration!
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Tuscaloosa County 2nd graders sing our tour anthem
- We were honored to spend the morning celebrating with our heroes, students, donors, administrators, and special guests. Thank you to Representative Bill Lamb, Representative Ron Bolton, Michael Anne Jackson – Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Lillie Lewis – Coordinator of Curriculum & Instruction, for celebrating with us!
- We are immensely appreciative for Representative Bill Lamb & Representative Ron Bolton for showing up for the students of Tuscaloosa County Schools!




























