VHHS chooses to continue We the People program

Vestavia Hills High School’s 15-year-old We the People program almost lost both of its sponsors at the end of the school year. However, after several discussions, sponsors Amy Maddox and Jane Schaefer have decided to continue teaching the mock-congressional hearing competition class.

Maddox first heard about the program when she was teaching at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School. After she was hired at VHHS, she asked to start the program. Schaefer joined as a co-sponsor in the 2007-08 school year.

Both Maddox and Schaefer considered stepping away from We the People at the end of the school year, but Maddox said conversations with VHHS Principal Tyler Burgess and a desire to meet the needs of an ever-growing number of high-achieving students helped encourage them to stay.

“Dr. Burgess shared his vision of the future at VHHS with us, and We the People was a part of that vision,” Maddox said. “Because of the growth in student numbers and the impact of the new schedule, both Mrs. Schaefer and I were facing changes in our daily schedule. This freed us up to look anew at the possibility of continuing We the People and making positive changes that we feel will make the program even stronger going forward.”

The program provides a chance for students and VHHS to be recognized locally and nationally, Burgess said, and he is glad the school can continue to provide that opportunity to its students. 

"We are obviously excited that the program is going to continue," he said.

Maddox and Schaefer's decision to remain with the program was made late in April, after the 2015-16 We the People team participated in the national competition and placed fourth.

Maddox said this year’s competition did not affect their decision to stay with the program, but they are grateful for the team’s hard work.

Because We the People is a large time commitment both in and out of the classroom, Burgess said they were having a hard time finding another instructor take over the course. The school will look toward the hiring process for potential future sponsors, he said. 

Maddox said she and Schaefer look forward to continuing as sponsors for VHHS’s We the People class.

“It will be the two of us for the foreseeable future, but we have always benefitted from the support of our colleagues and are excited about working with any newly hired history teachers who may have interest in the program,” Maddox said.