A new face has recently been added to the Crenshaw County Board of Education, but Sheri Claybrook, now representing District 2, is certainly not a new face in the community of Luverne.

“Having my kids in school here is what really got me involved in school and interested in being apart of the school system as a board member,” she said.

“As a board member, the majority of my job, as I understand it to this point, is really to work with the superintendent to see that we’re putting things in play that will improve our schools.”

Claybrook, a 1988 graduate of Luverne High School, grew up in Luverne before heading off to Auburn University for college. After graduating, she worked in Montgomery, Mobile and Birmingham; she eventually moved back to Montgomery.

After marrying her husband, also a graduate of LHS, in 2004, the couple welcomed their first son in 2005. In 2008, they welcomed their second son.

“We’ve been back here almost seven years. When my kids started school, I started volunteering in school whenever I was needed,” she said.

Claybrook now serves as the bookkeeper at the Luverne Co-op, and is ready to hit the ground running in her new position on the BOE.

“She’s a community member of Luverne and Crenshaw County, and I look forward to working with her for the best interest of the students in Crenshaw County Schools,” said Superintendent of Crenshaw County Schools Boyd English.

“She brings a lot to the table. She’s been an active participant because she has students in Luverne Elementary, and that’s exciting to be working with someone that supports our school system.”

Claybrook hopes to use her knowledge of the community and county to find new and resourceful methods of improving the school system, and is also thankful to all of those who have already offered their advice and suggestions. She and her family are currently involved with multiple activities in the community. Through this involvement, she hopes to open herself up to more interaction with those in her district, as well as those in surrounding districts.

In her time on the board, Claybrook hopes to do all she can to make sure students are prepared to go into the world after high school, regardless of whether students choose to pursue a college education, trade school degree or go directly into the work force.

“If we’re not preparing them for their future, then it impacts all of us. To me, top priority is our students, their well being and their preparedness. I’m hoping we can all be open to open dialogue, sharing ideas and looking at other successes from other places and implementing that,” Claybrook said.

“There are some really good things about all three schools in Crenshaw County, but there’s also room for improvement. I see schools evolving and changing, and actually being on the board and being able to be involved in that change is exciting to me.”