LaTara Sumerlin / Creek View Elementary School
LaTara Sumerlin serves as a Custodian at Creek View Elementary School, where she plays an essential role in maintaining a clean and welcoming environment. Now in her ninth year, she takes pride in caring for the campus while building positive relationships with students and faculty. Sumerlin is known for spreading joy throughout the school each day through her dedication and work ethic. Prior to joining ACS, she spent more than a decade working as a certified nursing assistant in an assisted living facility. A native of Alabaster, she brings a strong sense of pride and commitment to her role. Outside of work, Sumerlin enjoys collecting Jordans and proudly refers to herself as a "sneakerhead!"
Zulma Vargas / Meadow View Elementary School
Zulma Vargas serves as a Teacher Assistant at Meadow View Elementary School, where she supports classroom instruction by assisting students with letters, sounds, and sight words. She plays an important role in meeting individual student needs and helping build a strong foundation for early learning. Vargas enjoys making a positive impact on students’ lives, watching them grow academically, and collaborating with dedicated teachers and staff. Now in her eighth year with Alabaster City Schools, she brings valuable experience to her role. Originally from Maracay in the Aragua state of Venezuela, she moved to the United States as a teenager and attended Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, Maryland. Outside the classroom, Vargas enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures and cuisines.
Nikki Elliott / Thompson Intermediate School
Nikki Elliott serves as the Bookkeeper and Office Manager, overseeing the school’s financial operations, including cash receipting, purchase orders, invoicing, and payroll. Her work ensures fiscal organization and compliance, allowing teachers and staff to focus on student learning. With five years of service and previous experience at the Shelby County Schools Central Office and Lathan and Associates Architects, she brings strong expertise and attention to detail to her role. A native of Peachtree City, Georgia, Elliott values the variety of her work and enjoys helping teachers secure resources that enhance classroom instruction. Recently recognized by Dr. Hayes and the administrative team, she shared that the acknowledgment was especially meaningful, as her work often happens behind the scenes. Nikki is the proud mom to a 7-year-old boxer (dog) named Sam Elliott.
Sara Barnett / Thompson Intermediate School
Sara Barnett serves as an Instructional Paraprofessional at Thompson Middle School and is currently in her second year with the school. She supports students in sixth-grade Reading, Science, and Social Studies by providing additional instructional assistance in the classroom. In her role, Barnett works closely with teachers to help ensure student success and strengthen learning outcomes. She especially enjoys building meaningful connections with students and showing them that educators genuinely care about their growth. A native of Pleasant Grove, she is also a proud mother of three children, all of whom attend ACS schools. Prior to joining Thompson Middle School, Barnett worked as a preschool teacher and was voted “Most Likely to Have a Positive Influence on Someone’s Life” during her senior year of high school.
Frank Calma / Thompson High School
Frank Calma serves as a Maintenance Technician at Thompson High School, where he supports the daily operations of one of Alabama’s largest public school facilities. In this role, he performs all phases of maintenance work to help ensure a safe and well-functioning environment for students and staff. His work plays a critical role in maintaining the infrastructure of the campus and supporting overall school operations. Prior to joining Alabaster City Schools, Frank spent nearly a decade working in HVAC at a large apartment complex. A native of Hoover, he brings valuable technical experience and a strong work ethic to his position. He also proudly shares that he is a devout Catholic.