The things that occurred in the final week of the 2025-2026 Coalfield School Story perfectly epitomize the strong, “One-Heartbeat” culture we have in our school and community.
We saw our community come together to support our Coalfield High School Baseball team’s State Tournament run just a week after being asked to come together to support our Coalfield Lady Jackets Flag Football team’s State Tournament run. This is no easy task for a small school community. We truly appreciate all the businesses outside our community, former alumni, and all those in our community who sponsored our students.
We witnessed our community drive hours away to support our baseball team as they once again made the Final Four in the state.
We also saw our school community (students and staff) come together and welcome staff and students from Petros-Joyner School. A special thanks to Ms. Whitney Jackson and Mrs. Susan Bates for organizing a carnival day and gifts which allowed students the opportunity to relax and enjoy time socializing with staff and students at their new school. Thank you to Mr. Kevin Walls and his basketball team for providing popcorn for our new students and staff. Thank you to all our students and staff who came together to make cards, work game stations, and simply help our new students feel less anxious about the transition to a new school.
I am privileged to a lot of information that others aren’t. This past week, I witnessed several of our staff members respond to change, which we acknowledge is very hard, in a humble and gracious manner in order to accommodate our new staff and students who will be joining our One-Heartbeat family from PJ. I had to ask several veteran staff members to leave their classrooms and move to another classroom in order to make room for our new family members. Some were asked to consider a new position along with a new classroom for next year to accommodate new staff from PJ. I asked some to help to develop a new schedule ( for both middle school and elementary)to accommodate the changes we needed to make to accommodate our new family. I mention these things because I am so grateful for our Coalfield School staff and they need to be recognized for their incredible flexibility, empathy, compassion, and professionalism during this time of change. Not one, no, not even one of them, flinched. They all, not because they love the idea of change, but because they understand what One-Heartbeat encompasses, willingly and without conflict chose to do what would be best for our school as a whole. You cannot put a value on that kind of professionalism and integrity. I praise God for the people He has surrounded me with at our school. He has seen fit to give us approximately 86 new students and 8 new staff members through this transition…I am grateful for the opportunity He has given us to reflect His light to each of them.
Please continue to pray for our school, staff, and students as we navigate through the change that is still to come. Pray that God will help us let our light shine before those He puts in our life so that they may see His good works and give glory to Him.
““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16
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