By Alison McFerrin

The Selma Times-Journal

Morgan Academy can add to a long list of honors with the President’s Award from Alabama Independent School Association.

“I just completed my fourth year and I know we’ve won it all four years that I’ve been here,” Morgan headmaster Randy Skipper said. Skipper said he thinks the school has failed to win the award “just two or three times” in the past 20 years.

School officials learned Wednesday it would yet again be receiving the AISA President’s Award in the Class AAA division. This recognition comes with a plaque that will be awarded at the AISA meeting in July in Montgomery, Skipper said.

Karim Oaks, director of instruction, is in charge of putting all the materials and documentation together, and she said winning the award isn’t just old hat.

“Because we have won it so many times, we want to keep winning it,” Oaks said. “There just certain things you want to attain as a school to become a good school.”

The award recognizes a broad spectrum of school achievements, and points are awarded based on how many criteria are fulfilled.

“It’s something that I think people at times may take for granted, but I think if they actually looked at the tally sheet that we have to fill out and just see all the things on it, I think it’s very impressive,” Skipper said.

Nearly everything is taken into consideration — from test scores, to teacher certification, to National Merit students, to participation in academic bowls and band competitions.

“We have to cover it all,” Oaks said. “The times are changing — we’ve got to stay on top of everything.”

Oaks said she thought the school’s test scores might have put them over the top.

Other high scores came from having the state SGA president and vice president and entering and scoring well in every competition offered by the AISA.

“As far as being an administrator in the school environment, that’s the most prestigious award you can win,” said athletic director Brian King. “To be able to show that we’re the highest academic school, year in and year out, is just a really good showing for our school.”

“It’s a bi-product of what we do,” Skipper said. “We’re trying to provide the best education that we can so these kids can be prepared.

“I’m very proud of the student and faculty at staff at Morgan Academy through the years.”