Pastor calls on Hoover to lead by example
Employees praised at city school event Tuesday, August 07, 2007ERIN STOCK News staff writer  
The senior pastor for Hunter Street Baptist Church told Hoover City Schools employees Monday that "we have a right to demand moral character from our leaders."
 
The Rev. Buddy Gray, a Hoover parent, spoke at an annual gathering of system employees and gave the invocation. He focused on character and leadership, saying that leaders of character have the courage to make the right choices even if it's difficult to do so.
 
Gray's comments, made three days before school starts, come amid the contested dismissal of Hoover High School's principal, allegations of indiscretion about the school's head football coach and an independent investigation into possible academic impropriety involving athletics.  
 
"It was more or less a timely reminder that character counts," said board member A.W. Bolt, who was present Monday.  
 
Gray called on the audience to continue the system's reputation of character, of excellence in education, and closed with a prayer "that as leaders we will lead by example."  
 
He said he doesn't expect moral perfection.  
 
"Yes, there are failures. Yes, there are things that disqualify people from leadership, but at the same time, true character, true leadership is demonstrated when we respond to our own failures in a way that shows true repentance and moral courage, and that is the courage to do the right thing," Gray said.  
 
Efforts to reach Gray for comment after his speech were unsuccessful.  
 
Also at the event, Superintendent Andy Craig praised employees, calling them the school system's strong foundation.  
 
He said Hoover has teachers who are focused, dedicated and passionate about children, parents who "are some of the best," other staff who work tirelessly, school board members who are committed to providing the best education for students and strong community partnerships.  
 
What people are seeing on the outside, well folks, it hasn't always been pretty, but a closer look on what's on the inside is phenomenal," Craig said. "We've got a great thing going on in Hoover, and I'm convinced that the great things on the inside will soon shine through."  
 
His revelation that the school system and all its schools this year met progress goals under the federal No Child Left Behind law was met with applause. The district and Simmons Middle School are no longer in "school improvement" status.  
 
School officials were busy this summer with successful summer sessions, professional development for teachers and preparation for a secondary technology initiative, Craig said. The school system is starting its 20th year having seen incredible growth, with more than 12,200 students expected for the 2007-08 year at last count, he said.  
 
Ken Jarnagin, the new interim principal at Hoover High who started as the system's chief academic officer in July, told the audience that Hoover schools are going "straight up," based on what he's seen from teachers, staff members, school leaders and parents.  
 
"I have read the paper since Andy Craig hired me, and if we let the newspapers and the media control our destiny, rather than our character controlling our destiny, we are going down the wrong road," he said.  
 
Alan November, a senior partner with November Learning who wrote "Empowering Students with Technology," was the keynote speaker at Monday's event. He talked about the importance of preparing students to have a global work ethic and to use critical thinking on the Internet, a powerful medium.  
 
Hoover has launched a technology initiative, which is expected to cost more than $4 million. It includes outfitting classrooms with document cameras, student response systems and wireless tablets.  
 

I agree. It was time for Buddy to step up and say what needed to be said.
 
It was at Hunter Street last week where David Nasser made his comments.
 
HSBC.org. Look under Messages and click on the the sermon for 7/29/2007  david nasser.   Listen to last 10-15 minutes of his message.
 
Pretty powerful stuff.