Grimes, who is now retired, declined to comment for this story. But in a text message to me, he wrote: “I am so proud of the work we did for the students and families of Russellville. I am confident that the district will continue to prioritize the needs of all students, including English learners.”
While the fate of Russellville’s English learners remains uncertain, educators worry about what will happen next. “It’s a huge loss,” said Hollingsworth, of the School Superintendents of Alabama. “There’s a lot of concern from school leaders across the state about what will happen to Russellville now that Heath is gone. There are questions about whether the district will continue to prioritize the needs of English learners and how that will impact their success.”
Meanwhile, in Johnson’s classroom, De La Rosa was still working with Valentina, who was now learning to write her name in English. The young girl carefully traced the letters with a pencil, her eyes wide with concentration. Johnson, watching from across the room, knew that Valentina’s success would depend on the support of her bilingual aide and the commitment of the school district to serving all its students, regardless of their background or language.
Grimes was not going to back down from the challenge of supporting English learners in the district.
Despite the success of the district in serving English learner students, challenges remain. The community still grapples with issues of poverty, housing, and access to healthcare. But the progress made in the schools has given hope to many, including Ezzell, who sees the impact of investing in students and teachers.
“We’re changing lives,” she said. “We’re giving them something to hold onto, to be proud of. And that’s something that can never be taken away.”
As for Grimes, who recently left Russellville for a new position, he reflected on his time in the district with pride. “I always say it’s not about me. It’s about the kids,” he said. “But I’m proud of what we accomplished together.”
And as the district continues to grow and change, the legacy of investing in English learners will remain at the heart of Russellville’s educational mission.
Grimes also implemented a program where teachers in all subjects receive training on how to work with English learners, rather than relying solely on English as a Second Language teachers. This helps all teachers understand how to support English learners in their classrooms, rather than isolating them in separate classes.
Grimes’ efforts have not only improved the academic outcomes of English learners in Russellville but have also created a more inclusive and supportive school community. Hispanic parents are more involved in their children’s education, students feel a sense of belonging and pride in their school, and teachers are better equipped to support English learners in their classrooms.
His approach to working with English learners and their families serves as a model for other schools and districts looking to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all students. By building relationships, involving parents, and providing resources and training for teachers, schools can ensure that all students have the support they need to succeed.
Grissom said the school district should be able to operate on less money, and he questioned the need for a new school building. Grimes said the district needed the building to accommodate growth and that the city was not giving the district its fair share of funding.
The city council, which controls the school district’s budget, began to cut funding, and the school board sued the city in 2018 for not providing enough money. The city argued that the school district had a surplus that could be used. A judge ruled in favor of the city, and the board appealed. In 2020, the dispute was settled out of court, but by then, the relationship between Grimes and the city was strained.
Grissom and other city leaders had also begun to question Grimes’ leadership style and communication. City councilman Larry Brown said Grimes kept the district’s successes to himself and did not involve others in decision-making. “He kept them in the dark,” Brown said. “He didn’t keep council informed about what was going on.”
Grimes said he was transparent and open with the board but did not feel the need to involve the city council in school matters. “They didn’t understand all the things that we were doing,” he said. “It wasn’t their job to micromanage the school system.”
Grissom said he and other city leaders also felt that Grimes was too focused on Hispanic families and English learners, to the exclusion of other students. “It’s like he didn’t care about the other kids,” Grissom said. “He was only focused on one segment of the population.”
Grimes said he cared about all students but felt a responsibility to advocate for English learners, who were often overlooked. “We were doing everything we could for all kids,” he said. “But I knew that English learners needed extra help.”
The tension between Grimes and the city continued to escalate, and in 2021, the city council voted not to renew his contract. Grimes said he was blindsided by the decision and felt he was being punished for advocating for English learners. “It was a political move,” he said. “They didn’t like the direction we were going in.”
Grissom said the decision was made because the city needed a change in leadership. “We just felt it was time to go in a different direction,” he said. “It was nothing personal against Heath.”
Grimes’ last day with the district was June 30, 2021. He said he was proud of the work he had done and the progress the district had made, especially with English learners. “We made a difference in those kids’ lives,” he said. “That’s what matters.”
Grimes is now working as a consultant and advocating for English learners at the state level. He said he hopes to continue fighting for those students and making sure they get the support they need to succeed. “They deserve every opportunity that every other kid has,” he said. “And I’ll keep fighting for that.”
Despite the challenges and the controversy, Grimes said he has no regrets about his time in Russellville. “I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “I did what I believed was right, and I stand by that.”
It is clear from the information provided that Heath Grimes faced significant challenges and opposition during his tenure as superintendent of the Russellville City school district. Despite his efforts to prioritize the needs of English learners and implement programs to support them, he was met with resistance from Mayor Grissom, City Council members, and the school board. The decision to not renew his contract and replace him with a new superintendent, Tim Guinn, appears to have been driven by personal reasons rather than what was best for the students.
The unraveling of the programs and practices put in place by Grimes, such as the bilingual aides not being rehired and the dual-language immersion charter school being scrapped, is concerning. It raises questions about the future of support for English learners in the district and whether the new leadership will prioritize their needs.
Overall, the situation in Russellville highlights the challenges that education leaders face when trying to implement positive changes in the face of opposition and personal agendas. It is unfortunate that Grimes had to step down from his role under such circumstances, and it remains to be seen how his legacy and the programs he initiated will be sustained in the district. El mes pasado, Grimes comenzó a trabajar a tiempo completo en Reach University, la organización sin fines de lucro que capacita a los asistentes bilingües como maestros, como su director regional de alianzas en Alabama, Mississippi y Tennessee.
Los últimos seis meses han sido agotadores. Grimes ha dicho poco públicamente sobre su partida y ha dicho a la mayoría de las personas en la comunidad que se está retirando. Cuando estábamos almorzando juntos en un restaurante local, El Patrón, otros comensales seguían deteniéndose para desearle lo mejor. Dos de ellos bromeaban sobre lo joven que se veía para jubilarse. Grimes se rió y jugó junto, pero después de que se fueron, sus hombros se encorvaron y parpadeó para ahuyentar las lágrimas.
“Durante mi carrera, estuve muy comprometido, muy dedicado a hacer lo mejor para los niños”, me dijo en voz baja. “No sentí que merecía que terminara de esta manera”.
Dijo que no se arrepiente de los cambios que hizo para los estudiantes de inglés en la ciudad. “Jesús amaba a las personas que los demás no amaban. Y eso era parte de su mensaje: amas a tus enemigos, amas a tus vecinos, amas a los extranjeros, amas al pecador”, dijo. “Veo a Dios en esos niños”.
Rebecca Griesbach de AL.com contribuyó con la información.
Esta historia sobre las escuelas de Russellville fue producida por The Hechinger Report, una organización de noticias independiente y sin fines de lucro centrada en la desigualdad y la innovación en educación, y palabra, una iniciativa de la Asociación Nacional de Periodistas Hispanos, junto con AL.com. Regístrese para el boletín informativo de Hechinger. Suscríbase al boletín de palabra.
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