Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
The Elmore County Board of Education met, Feb. 17, 2026, at 100 H.H. Robinson Drive, Wetumpka, announcing two awards: a $50,000 “7 in 7th” grant to strengthen seventh-grade math achievement and an $8,200 grant for the boys mentoring program at Wetumpka High School.
The $50,000 grant from the state’s Office of Extended Learning will fund a seven-week after-school program from Feb. 11 through April 1, operating from 3 to 5:30 p.m. The grant is provided through the After-School Action Program.
The program will be offered at all five middle schools in the county and is designed for students who scored at Levels 2 or 3 on the spring ACAP assessment.
Ayena Jackson, director of middle schools for grades five through eight, and Loukisha Brooks, senior coordinator of administrative services, wrote the grant and are overseeing the program.
“Seventh-grade math continues to be an area of concern not just in Elmore County, but across the state,” said Jackson. “This program allows us to be intentional about closing gaps and strengthening foundational skills before students move into higher-level math.”
Students receive a meal before each session. Certified teachers provide small-group instruction focused on foundational math skills and key seventh-grade standards, with support from administrators, nurses, and trained instructional aids.
In addition, 11 high school student leaders who excel in math will assist teachers and provide peer support. The students will be compensated for their work.
“We want our students to know we see them, we believe in them, and we’re willing to invest the time and resources to help them succeed,” said Jackson. “We are so excited for this program, and we are asking for our students to attend, be engaged, and to learn something.”
Students who attend all seven sessions will be invited to attend a Montgomery Biscuits game.
The board also recognized an $8,200 grant from the Louis Collins Foundation to support the boys’ mentoring program at Wetumpka High School. Superintendent Richard Dennis presented the check on behalf of Stuart Memory with the foundation. Principal Kyle Futral and 10th-grade Assistant Principal David Thomas accepted the funds.
Thomas launched the mentoring group with Justin Robinson of the Elmore County Family Resource Center after identifying a need for additional guidance and positive male role models on campus.
“This has been on my heart for a long time,” said Thomas. “So many of our young men just need that extra support.”
The program meets weekly and serves about 25 students. The funding will help cover supplies, materials, shirts, and field trips designed to broaden students’ experiences.
“We’re so appreciative,” said Thomas. “This will go a long way in helping these young men.”
Futral said the grant ensures the school can continue building meaningful opportunities that promote leadership, accountability, and growth among students.
Together, the two grants represent a combined $58,200 investment in academic achievement and student mentorship across Elmore County Public Schools.
