Principal's Message

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Dear Parents,  

Greetings and welcome to The Forrest! The 2024-2025 school year promises to be the best yet, and there is a profound sense of excitement and confidence on campus as we begin an exhilarating school year ready to take our school to the next level.

My name is Teresa Croom Bivens. I am born and raised from Tuscaloosa, AL and I am also a Tuscaloosa City Schools Graduate. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education, I obtained a Masters and Educational Specialist degree, also from The University of Alabama in Educational Leadership. Currently at the University, I am working to obtain my Doctoral degree within Educational Leadership. My educational career began as a sixth-grade teacher in the Tuscaloosa County School System. Years later, I taught 2nd and 3rd grade in Trussville City Schools and then I traveled back to the Tuscaloosa City Schools as a Reading Specialist and was promoted to the Assistant Principal at Southview.

As we collaborate with one another throughout this school year, it is our goal to integrate STEM through our curriculum, enhance student’s literacy and writing skills, and teach applied mathematics through Daily Number Sense Routines. The initiatives of Woodland Forrest Elementary are in conjunction with the Tuscaloosa City Schools Strategic Plan and will be bolstered through our ongoing partnerships with The University of Alabama and AMSTI. The processes and policies we’ve established are leading to positive student outcomes, and our highly-qualified teachers will continue to deliver personalized, engaging and rigorous instruction to every student, every day.

Teaching the whole child is an ongoing concern here at Woodland Forrest as we care for their social emotional learning. Social-emotional learning and student well-being will continue to be an integral part of our daily instruction. We strive to create a holistic and inclusive educational experience, and foster a school culture of self-growth, respect, and kindness. School safety is another top priority at Woodland Forrest, and we take this charge seriously. We have a full-time SRO (police officer) on campus and the entire staff regularly reviews and practices safety protocols and drills.

Our campus is secure, but open. I need parents here in The Forrest. Join our PTA, volunteer in a classroom, visit your child at lunch, conference with their teacher, join us for school-wide events for the entire family. As your new principal, I promise to you that I will do everything I can to ensure that WFES is a true partner for all stakeholders and fulfills its part of the learning contract. Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or concerns. Your participation, input, and feedback are always welcome.  

Educationally Yours,  

Teresa Croom Bivens