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Jemison Intermediate School was selected to represent Alabama as a possible recipient for the International Technology Engineering Education Association’s program of excellence award.

The award will be given out in March 2021 during a presentation in Denver, Colorado.

“I seek out programs across the state of Alabama that exude excellence in regards to teaching our students,” said Barbara Dunham with the association in Alabama. “The focus is on programs that place a high inference on technology.”

JIS has made efforts to embrace STEM in recent years and will making strides in expanding its outdoor classroom and weather station this school year.

“It is amazing what they are offering,” Dunham said. “Those are the components that we look for. It is one of the highest honors that an organization can receive.”

Each state has the opportunity to recommend a school to be in contention for various awards.

Once Dunham receives the recommendation, she comes to the school to investigate further if they are actually worthy of such an award.

According to Dunham, JIS checked all the boxes during her visit and it was obvious to her that they belonged in the discussion nationally.

“This program is certainly deserving of the honor,” Dunham said.

JIS has strived to make it a goal that each student at the school be able to enjoy the STEM resources that are available in some form or another.

“I feel that they (JIS) have created a culture and climate that is conducive for learning for all of their students,” Dunham said.

According to JIS Principal D.J. Nix, getting recognized internationally for all the hard work the school’s staff and community has done in recent years is very rewarding.

“That award will just show people just how far Jemison can go,” Nix said. “It’s not just Jemison, but the whole community of Chilton County that is making it a better place. This award belongs to Chilton County and every group of citizens.”