October 1, 2024 — The Vestavia Hills City Schools Hall of Fame will add five new inductees this year to its list of legendary educators.

Inductees in the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 include, in alphabetical order:

• Kim Bain, band director at Louis Pizitz Middle School from 2006 to 2021

• Reba Clark, director of guidance, curriculum and instruction at the Vestavia Hills Board of Education from 1970 to 1991 and will be inducted posthumously

• Barbara Gajewski, social studies teacher, psychology teacher, and counselor at Vestavia Hills High School from 1980 to 2010, and again from 2013 to 2021

• George Hatchett, physical education teacher and health teacher at Louis Pizitz Middle School, and boys’ basketball head coach at Vestavia Hills High School from 1977 to 2016

• Melvese Mann, second grade teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary East and West from 1975 to 2005

The Class of 2024 will be the fifth group of educators inducted into the VHCS Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees were chosen from a field of nominees submitted earlier this year by alumni, current and former school employees, and the community at large. More than 150 nominations have been received since the start of the Hall of Fame initiative. A full list of previous inductees as well as nomination information is available at vhcs.us/halloffame. 

“The newest inductees into the VHCS Hall of Fame continue our tradition of honoring outstanding educators who have influenced the lives of so many in our community. Each of them served the school system with distinction and a commitment that are unmatched,” said Todd Freeman, Ed.D., Vestavia Hills City Schools superintendent.

Inductees will be honored at a special Hall of Fame ceremony on Monday, Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center. The event is free and open to the public.