Elmore Teacher of the Year

Cliff Williams / TPI Elmore County Public School middle school teachers of the year pose for a photograph after they were named at last week’s board of education meeting.

It didn’t take long to realize the crowd at the Elmore County Board of Education meeting Tuesday night was there to celebrate.

PHOTOS: Elmore County Board of Education Teacher of the Year announced

Seats were pushed into the boardroom just before the board announced Courtney Davis as elementary teacher of the year and Christopher Robbins as high school teacher of the year.

“The winners will move into the Alabama Teacher of the Year program,” board chair David Jones said.

Davis of Redland Middle School and Robbins of Wetumpka High School were selected from 23 school teachers of the year.

Davis and Robbins now will enter applications and interview for the state teacher of the year, which Airport Road Intermediate School teacher Deborah Stringfellow won just a year ago. Stringfellow was present at the reception honoring the 23 teachers.

“It’s so great to be able to speak with so many teachers and friends,” Stringfellow said. “They are all wonderful teachers and great people.”

The following were chosen as each school's respective teachers of the year: 

• Davis and Leah McAlister, Redland Middle School

• Mary Ann Drost, Eclectic Elementary School

• Shantorya Jones and Rebekah Babers, Millbrook Middle School

• Lea Berstresser, Stanhope Elmore High School

• Emily Blietz, Airport Road Intermediate School

• Kate Boyer, Holtville Elementary School

• Megan Davis and Candice Eason, Eclectic Middle School

• Leslie Hines, Elmore County High School

• Jeanette Miller, Coosada Elementary School

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• Jasmine Oates and J.D. Stark, Holtville Middle School

• Athina Ryals and Jessica Tapia, Wetumpka Middle School

• Deborah Johnston, Wetumpka Elementary School

• Kayla Ellis, Elmore County Alternative Program

• Kerry Puckett, The Edge: The Elmore County Virtual School

• D.J. Warren, Elmore County Technical Center

• Phillip Smart, Holtville High School 

In addition to honoring the teachers of the year, new board members who were elected or reelected were sworn in and the board also conducted limited business. 

Following suggestions from the teacher retention team, a calendar for the 2024-25 school year was approved by the board.

“This calendar is a reflection of many of their requests,” Jones said.

 

In other action the Elmore County Board of Education:

• Approved the minutes of the Oct. 22 and Nov. 12 meetings.

• Approved necessary personnel action.

The next meeting of the Elmore County Board of Education is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Dec. 16.

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