Welcome Back to Class
Meet Dr. Cathy Trimble, the new Principal at Banks Academy. Dr. Trimble comes to the private, Christian school located in East Lake with 35 years of experience in education, most recently as the Principal of Francis Marion High School in Marion, Ala. Dr. Trimble has been nationally recognized as a key leader in education with Teach for America naming an award for her.
Dr. Trimble had no plans to come to Banks Academy. “I’d never even heard of it,” she adds. When it came to her attention that the school board was searching for a new principal, she started to feel a nudge to at least explore the opportunity, even though she was very happy where she was. “I did the interview to satisfy whatever was in my conscience saying go and check it out. I realized later that the conscience was actually the Holy Spirit,” Dr. Trimble says. Once she was offered the job as principal, she says she toyed with the idea until God spoke to her. “He spoke to me from Genesis 12 where God spoke to Abram and told him to ‘leave your country, leave your relatives and go to the land where I will show you.’” Dr. Trimble was outside walking and praying about the opportunity when she felt God speak to her, “as you’re walking to a destination physically, you must walk in My will and My way.” After this, she felt she had no choice but to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.
Banks Academy is entering its 7th year of education. Many of the board members are alumni of the original Banks High School that closed in 1989. “They had a vision of educating the area children in their home community. They wanted students to have a quality education like they did,” Dr. Trimble says. Students at Banks Academy receive a quality education with a Christian worldview. Students at each grade level perform community service throughout the school year. “We have to teach them how to work in the mission field, be a servant, and walk as Jesus walked,” Dr. Trimble explains, adding that Banks Academy isn’t limited to students living in the East Lake community. The school even provides transportation for students who attend.
Interested in learning more about Banks Academy? Coffee with Cathy is for you! Dr. Trimble encourages anyone who is interested in helping Banks Academy further their mission to join her on August 26 from 7:30 a.m.- 8:30 a.m. at BMSS Wesson Wealth Management, 3500 Colonnade Parkway, Suite 150, 35243, to hear the vision of the school and learn about ways to partner with Banks Academy. Another Coffee with Cathy is scheduled for September 16 at OneAscent Wealth Management, 23 Inverness Center Parkway, 35242 from 7:30 a.m.- 8:30 a.m. “You can hear what we are planning to do to go from surviving to thriving,” Dr. Trimble adds. RSVP for the event by calling 205-266-8634 or email [email protected]. To learn more about Banks Academy, visit www.banksacademy.org. Banks Academy is entering its 7th year of education. Many of the board members are alumni of the original Banks High School that closed in 1989. “They had a vision of educating the area children in their home community. They wanted students to have a quality education like they did,” Dr. Trimble says. Students at Banks Academy receive a quality education with a Christian worldview. Students at each grade level perform community service throughout the school year. “We have to teach them how to work in the mission field, be a servant, and walk as Jesus walked,” Dr. Trimble explains, adding that Banks Academy isn’t limited to students living in the East Lake community. The school even provides transportation for students who attend.
-Melissa Armstrong
