Anyone who’s been through Cullman Middle or High School in the last 20 years probably knows Nancy Scott, but they probably don’t know her life before her career as an educator.
Scott began her career 1962 at Lloyd Noland Hospital in Birmingham, where she trained unit clerks and hospital personnel in clerical roles. In 1970, she decided to step away from full-time work when she became pregnant with her third child.
After moving to eastern Birmingham in the early 1970s, Scott’s love for fitness led her to attend an exercise class at a local school. When her instructor went on medical leave, she began teaching the classes, incorporating music into workouts to make them more engaging and fun.
“Back then, fitness classes didn’t have music — you just did the exercises military style. But I thought, why not make it fun? So I started adding music, and it completely changed the energy of the class.” She began to teach fitness classes at multiple schools, including Hewitt-Trussville High School, Putnam Middle School and the Northeast YMCA. After attending a workshop in Atlanta, she became a certified dance aerobics instructor and taught courses for a decade till the end of her career, impacting countless people throughout the Birmingham area. “I wasn’t just leading a workout — I was helping people keep healthy and feel good about themselves.”
In the mid-1970s, Scott began jogging to expand her training and developed a passion for it. She joined the Birmingham Track Club, one of only two women then, and began participating in area races across the Southeast, including 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and full marathons. In 1980, she participated in her 11th marathon, the Vulcan Marathon in Birmingham, winning the women’s division with a time that qualified her for the Boston Marathon.
“Winning the women’s division for the Vulcan Marathon was a big moment — it proved to me that I could push myself further. Back then, there weren’t many women running marathons, and certainly not many in Birmingham. But I wasn’t going to let that stop me.” In 1981, Scott became the first woman from Alabama to complete the Boston Marathon, which marked a historic moment for the state of Alabama. “When I ran the Boston Marathon, I didn’t just do it for myself — I did it for all the women who came after me.” She had become an inspiration, and her success caught the attention of Nike, which sponsored her with shoes and athletic apparel for a year, assisting her in continuing her running career. “Nike sent me shoes and gear for a year. I guess they thought I was serious about running!”
Scott returned to education in the mid-1980s. She soon transitioned into administration, when a supervisor in the Birmingham Public Schools Community Education Department appointed her as the program director for community education. While serving as director, she led the Crestwood Community Education Center, which was once an abandoned elementary school and turned into a center for adult learning. She brought in programs such as electrical apprenticeships, sewing and general education, giving the community access to personal and professional development resources.
In 2001, she retired from Birmingham Public Schools, and a few years later, in 2004, she moved to Cullman with her granddaughter, whom she was raising. There, she fell in love with the community and became an active member of several community organizations, including the Civitan Club and local dance classes at what is now the Donald E. Green Active Adult Center. Scott also twice participated in the Miss Senior Cullman County Pageant and became a regular at the Cullman Wellness and Aquatic Center.
Despite her retirement, her love of education led her back to the classroom as a substitute teacher for Cullman City Schools. She found joy in teaching and spending time with the students. When she first began her subbing career, she taught at every city school but soon realized she particularly had a heart for middle and high school students. Her ability to connect with students and her compassionate heart made her a beloved role model for many students.
Scott’s impact on her students has been incredible, with many recognizing and honoring her throughout the community. Substitute teaching has brought joy to her life in many ways. She sees it as a calling, praying each day to be led to the students who need her the most. “The students have touched my life in thousands of ways and made it richer and fuller.”
Scott’s life has been full of incredible experiences and accomplishments, whether in education, fitness or community involvement. Her service to the students and faculty of Cullman City Schools is a testament to her deep love of the community.
“I’ve made lifetime friends — students, parents, teachers. They’re all family to me.”
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