SELMA — John T. Morgan Academy now has one more reason to celebrate with school spirit. The school was recently honored with the President’s Award from the Alabama Independent School Association.

“Of course I’m proud of my school,” said Katie Jackson, senior at Morgan. “We’re very well rounded and school spirited.”

Jackson contributed to Morgan’s success as a member of the varsity cheerleading squad, the tennis team and as this year’s Miss Morgan Academy.

The rankings of schools is decided by an extensive listing of academic, athletic, extracurricular activities, as well as student standardized testing scores, total scholarship amounts awarded to the graduating senior class and percentage of faculty with advanced degrees.

“We strive to be at the top of each one of those areas,” said Randy Skipper, headmaster of the school.

Skipper ensures that Morgan participates in all the academic competitions ASIA holds, and the school hosts the state’s technical fair. Morgan has won the technical fairs all three years Skipper has been headmaster.

After 15 years of teaching fifth- and sixth-grade English, Frankie Cahoon is proud to be a part of Morgan.

“All of us in the fifth and sixth grade work together well to give the kids a good background when they get to junior high and high school,” Cahoon said. “The parents are supportive too because they want their children to well. And the children want to be successful. They have goals they want to achieve because most of them want to go to college.”

Cahoon loves teaching at Morgan because the environment is welcoming and she feels supported by parents, coworkers and administrators. “It is a privilege to teach here,” Cahoon said.