AHSAA Class 5A Making a Difference Recipient

MONTGOMERY – Birmingham’s Ramsay International Baccalaureate High School has a cheerleader whose actions speak even louder than her words.
Dr. Carolyn Russell-Walker is unabashed about her love for her school. It shows when a visitor checks out the school’s virtual site.

Dr. Walker is quick to point out how important her faculty and coaches are to the students’ success.
“Their commitment, drive, and work ethic speaks to the innate ability and gift of teaching that they possess,” she said. “The teachers’ unwavering dedication to seeing students win and achieve catapults me into excellence daily! The adage, “Iron sharpens Iron” is embodied here on the hill!” She said it is important to embrace the fact that “We cannot do this work alone,” she said. “We have parents that believe in the partnership between the school and the home. Our parental involvement is the foundation for which our work is based upon. Their support of excellence and expectation for their children to be successful and prepared because of the Ramsay experience makes us greater!”
Dr. Walker, a product of Birmingham public education graduating from Ensley High School, earned her Doctor of Philosophy at Alabama A&M University. She has constantly continued to learn – earning a Credential ID Program Certificate from Harvard Business School Executive Education through her work with the Public Education Leadership Project Summer Institute. She has also been active in the Alabama State Department of Education’s programs.
AmFirst presented her the Academic Leader Award in 2025 at the Minority Business Awards festivity hosted by SummitMedia at Birmingham’s The Club. This prestigious recognition was awarded to Dr. Walker for her exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication to academic excellence. She was selected the honoree through a public voting process online for her commitment to uplifting students and creating a lasting impact in the Birmingham community.
“Carolyn is a true educator who teaches life skills as well as academics to her students,” said H. LaMarr Clasberry, a Jefferson County educator, coach, ordained minister, and motivational speaker. “Her love for children, especially under privileged children, goes far beyond her call of duty. If there were more teachers who teach with her philosophy the world in the future would be a better place. Her philosophy (explained in this adage) would be," She knows that students do not care how much you know until they know how much you care."
Dr. Walker’s passion is contagious. “Education is not merely about preparing students for tests,” she says. “It is about preparing them for life. That is why I do what I do. I lead to inspire, empower, and champion every child who spans my path, I see my role as helping students discover their purpose, develop resilience, and envision a future filled with possibilities.”
She adds, “Children are my superpower! They are my life! Every day, I am driven by the belief that education is one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives and creating opportunities. I wholeheartedly embrace the words of renowned educator Rita Pierson: “Every child deserves a champion.” Every student deserves an adult who sees their potential, believes in their abilities, and encourages them to become the absolute best version of themselves.
“All children have inherent worth and value. As educators and adults, we have a responsibility to help young people discover their strengths, recognize their gifts, and develop confidence in who they are and who they can become. My goal is not simply to “teach” them, but to inspire students to believe in themselves, especially during moments when they may doubt their abilities or face challenges that seem insurmountable.
“Each day, I strive to create experiences that leave a lasting impact on the students that we encounter at the foot of the Vulcan! I want the lessons, conversations, encouragement, and relationships we build together to become memories they carry with them long after they leave our school.”

Reminder: Starting next week, our schools and offices will be closed on Fridays during the summer. After July 31, we will resume a normal weekday schedule. #SuccessStartsHere 🗓️

Ramsay I.B. High School exchange student Svea Gielsemann is a shining example of how Birmingham City Schools is building leaders and impacting the world.

As Svea’s time at Ramsay comes to a close, we celebrate the journey of this outstanding scholar from Germany. Hear more about how Svea furthered her educational success through Birmingham City Schools in the latest episode of Success in BCS.

Summer is ALMOST here -- make sure to keep some good books near for your scholars! Our Curriculum and Instruction Department has curated its annual Summer Reading List for every reading level. K-5 lists include links to chapter books on myON as well.

Twelve graduating seniors have signed on to work with area companies after graduation through the Academy of Craft Training! 🚧🦺🧱🧰

A panel of coaches, athletic trainers, mental health professionals and sports psychologists fielded questions from scholar-athletes at Ramsay High School today as part of Beyond the Game, an event focused on the mental health challenges faced by athletes.

While the event took place at Ramsay, it was also streamed live to other schools. https://youtube.com/live/C5AZjA3ToIU #SuccessStartsHere

Last night, the board recognized some of Ramsay's outstanding educators!

🍎 BCS Secondary Teacher of the Year: April Sibley of Ramsay I.B. High School


🍎 BCS Secondary Counselor of the Year: Sonya Thompson of Ramsay I.B. High School


🍎 ASAHPERD Health Educator of the Year: Jovanka Ward of Ramsay High School

#SuccessStartsHere

During today's Birmingham City Council meeting, Councilwoman Crystal Smitherman recognized several scholars from Ramsay High School for their recent successes, including:

🏆 BCS Softball Championship for the Lady Rams 🥎

🏆 First Place in the Academic Bowl

🥇🥈 First and Second Place in eight categories in the BCS Science Fair

🥇 Indoor Track State Champion in 60m and 400m — Quantez Williams 🏃🏾‍♂️

#SuccessStartsHere

Registration for the 2026-2027 academic year is now open! Give your scholar a head start towards success with Birmingham City Schools. We offer a rigorous education that prepares our scholars for college, careers and life.

Our BCS Under the Lights Game of the Week features the Ramsay Rams baseball team hosting Leeds at historic Rickwood Field! Tune in Thursday, April 2 at 6 p.m. for full coverage.

Ramsay High School is the winner for the High School Division of the 2026 Academic Bowl! #SuccessStartsHere

The final competitions for the 2026 Academic Bowl are set! Watch the High School and Middle School rounds LIVE on YouTube tomorrow starting at 10 a.m. Look for results in the News section. #SuccessStartsHere