The Interview: Dr. Wayne Vickers

SARALAND, Ala. (WALA) - Dr. Wayne Vickers has led Mobile County's other public school system for three years.

Vickers serves as Superintendent of the Saraland school system.  He was excited about the job and the opportunity of being there to create traditions from the beginning.
    
"We're going to really be able to I think accomplish something that other systems can only dream of," says Dr. Vickers.

Dr. Wayne Vickers says he was intrigued about building something new, that's what attracted him to the job as Superintendent of Saraland schools. He said it gave them the chance to create traditions that don't get in the way of achievement.
 
"That's the pull that got me to Saraland, being a part of writing the Alma Mater, being a part of developing the first fight song, being a part of designing a high school, that excitement about building something new intrigued me.  And, the thought of starting the traditions instead of inheriting them meant a lot to me," Vickers adds.
 
It meant so much, in fact, that Vickers left the superintendent's job in Demopolis, Ala. after just two years and great community support.
      
"It was, it was difficult because there were great people there and it's a great tradition in Demopolis of excellence," he said. "I think it certainly prepared me for this venture in Saraland."

Growing up in the Birmingham area, Vickers saw several models for Saraland's success in school systems there that had broken away from larger city and county systems with positive results.

"I knew it would work because the key factor to a successful school system in my opinion is community involvement and local control. There's great accountability in that and I think that that works in its favor," Vickers said.

He said that larger systems run into the problem of maintaining community spirit but said its not always the system's fault.
 
"I was very pleased with our SACS review, we went through accreditation and our report was great.  We were ranked 'Highly Functional' in standard vision and mission and purpose, and to be ranked Highly Functional in one area after only 4 years of existence to me was unheard of.  Academically, we're not only meeting the needs of the students but we're pushing them to new heights," Vickers proudly shares.

Saraland's goal is a world class educational system for its nearly 2300 students in grades K-12. He hopes that staying away from complacency will help with that. Vickers wants to stay ahead of the curve and avoid being left behind in a quickly changing society.
 
"I do a lot of thinking because you have to stay ahead of the game, we need to mold our education system to meet the changing needs of our students, but still hold those high standards," Vickers said. "No one is immune from the ills of society or the things that will go on in our world."

Nathan Blaylock, the Saraland high school boy's basketball coach, was arrested in March 2012. Blaylock was charged with sexual misconduct after a complaint of inappropriate communications with a student.

Vickers says all schools have to be prepared to respond to today's issues.

"If issues come up you deal with them, you have to have policies and procedures in place, and be willing to follow them. You have to do what's best for the students," he adds.

"By the fall of 2013, every student in Saraland will be in either a new facility or a newly renovated facility, there are not a lot of school systems in the state or the nation that can make that statement," says Dr. Vickers.

Vickers said Saraland Middle School will transform with new technology and "look brand new." He also said a new elementary school that will be nicer than any in this area.
 
"My theme for our students is we want every child to have something that they're good at, something they enjoy that gets them to school to perform and I believe we have an opportunity to make that happen," Vickers says. "I'm just very fortunate to be here and hopefully they'll keep me around a little while."

Vickers said one challenge he faces is keeping up with the school system's growth. People want to be a part of the Saraland school system and enrollment has grown each year. 

Vickers says Saraland is successful because community and school leaders have made every decision based on what is best for the children.