Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
On Thursday, December 18th, 2025, Redland Elementary School’s first grade students of Kelli Toole’s class performed a Christmas program at Mulder Church located in Wetumpka. This class was the first class out of 15 years to perform on the big stage with the big lights, previously taken place at Redland Elementary School.
“Today my heart could explode with pride,” said Toole. “I love doing the Christmas program because I believe deeply in my children and in what they are capable of, even at such a young age. I do not have children of my own, so I get to pour my heart and soul into my students. They are my babies, and loving encouraging, and believing in them is one of the greatest joys of my life.”
Every single student had a microphone part, learned lyrics, and mastered dance moves, and that was intentional. Every child needed to feel seen, heard, and be important. This was not about creating a perfect performance. This was about building confidence, teamwork, and bravery.
Toole’s goal for her students is for them to feel confident and to know they can do hard and scary things. Getting on a microphone in front of a large audience, singing, dancing, and performing takes courage, and she wanted them to discover their courage within themselves. She wants this to be a memory they would never forget! One they can look back on and say, “I did that.”
“Kellie Toole has mastered the craft of teaching children academics while simultaneously building confidence and a deep love for learning,” said Nacole Baxley, Instructional Coach.
The Christmas program performances for the first-grade students in Mrs. Toole’s class have been taking place for 15 years, and some of Toole’s very first students are now in college. Her previous students and parents still reach out to tell Toole how much this performance meant to them and how vividly they remember it. Toole knows that this experience matters far beyond one day on a stage.
“Watching their confidence bloom is worth every minute. At the end of the day, these children mean the world to me. If they can stand on a stage and perform with confidence now, I know they will carry that belief in themselves into everything they do next,” said Toole.
Preparing for something as big as this takes weeks of practice beginning in November. They rehearse a little at a time, building skills day by day, encouraging one another, and celebrating progress along the way. There are moments of nerves, but there is so much growth that happens in the process.
“Some say the most magical place on earth is Disney, but if you have been to Mrs. Toole’s Christmas program you know the magic kingdom cannot even compete with the enchantment of seeing your child so loved and cared for by their teacher! Her program is a Holiday staple at Redland Elementary and is beloved by her students and their parents. What looks like a sweet and playful Christmas program is truly lessons of love, joy, and self-confidence all taught by their much-adored teacher,” said Principal Cory Eckstein of Redland Elementary School.
It takes a village to create moments like these, and Toole is very thankful for the precious families, Mulder Church, Redland Elementary coworkers, and friends who continually show up and make this program extraordinary.
For more information about Redland Elementary School, please visit their Facebook page at: https://facebook.com/redlandelementaryschool.
