There is no ‘I’ in team, but for Team Stringfellow, there is no doubt who the quarterback is at Airport Intermediate School. It’s Deborah Stringfellow — Alabama’s Teacher of the Year.
Stringfellow was given the honor in a Montgomery ceremony two weeks ago, but last week students and faculty celebrated as ALFA presented her with a vehicle for her to travel the state in for the next year.
PHOTOS: Airport Road Intermediate School celebrates Teacher of the Year
ARIS fourth grader Lauryn Simmons has seen how effective Stringfellow is in her classroom.
“She means a lot to us,” Lauryn said. “She is helpful.”
Stringfellow has been in education for more than four decades. She came to ARIS three years ago and was paired with teacher Sydni Edwards to help pour knowledge into fourth graders.
“We are hand and hand together all the time,” Edwards said. “She is a gem.”
Zoie Frasier also teaches fourth grade with Edwards and Stringfellow. They have learned a lot from the veteran Stringfellow. They don’t fully understand why Stringfellow is always lending them a hand, but are thankful to have her on the team at ARIS. The veteran, Stringfellow, is always there supporting her fellow teachers with Super Bowl parties at Glow Days to help students learn.
“We do big classroom transformations,” Edwards said. “She has taken it on and goes all out with us. She has never said no to an idea. You would not know she is that old by the way she acts in the classroom.”
Stringfellow said the Glow Day is part of a national project. At ARIS, teachers cover the windows and place black lights in the classrooms. The colors change and become more vibrant. It helps open the doors to lessons on light waves, math and science. The Super Bowl party provides opportunities for reading recipes and math and science in preparing the snacks.
Such activities weren’t fully welcomed in education settings when Stringfellow first started teaching 44 years ago.
“I would do some innovative things but instructional time was structured,” Stringfellow said. “I have learned to navigate, adjust and change with the times.”
Learning effective ways to teach have come in a variety of ways over the years. Stringfellow has gleaned new teaching methods and technology from new teachers and continuing education. It helped the veteran navigate the changing world of education. Other lessons came as she raised her own children.
Once, Stringfellow was buying a computer for the family and figured out the parts of the computer and teaching basic human anatomy were a lot alike.
“Each of them has parts required to make everything work,” Stringfellow said. “They have a lot in common. The lesson involved making an eBay ad to build human body systems. My kids ate it alive.”
Stringfellow later used computers to help students learn the life cycle of a plant and animation.
“That was cool,” Stringfellow said.
Along the way Stringfellow has learned to break from traditional methods because it is needed to keep the attention of the students.
“We live in a multi-faceted world,” Stringfellow said. “We have to compete with all the technology out there. Some way we have to get them to tune into us. Instruction can be made to be interesting, innovative and encouraging.”
Frasier and Edwards welcomed the wisdom and leadership of Stringfellow so much so they made their way to Montgomery before the Teacher of the Year ceremonies started two weeks ago.
“They had tossed around the idea they were going to come out and crash it,” Stringfellow said. “I said if they wanted to come, they could come hang out in the parking lot. I didn’t think they were going to come.”
As things were getting started at the Teacher of the Year announcement, Elmore County Schools director of elementary schools Amy Harrison said she kept seeing social media posts about teachers in the parking lot of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.
Frasier, Edwards and more of the staff from ARIS were watching it live just outside the ceremony. As the time for the announcement got closer, Stringfellow’s teammates got closer to the auditorium.
When the runner-up was announced, Stringfellow noticed her granddaughter Lily and coach of Team Stringfellow.
“She cried when they named the other lady, she thought I had lost,” Stringfellow said. “I thought if I don’t win, I’m not going to be able to look her in the eye. No pressure. I would have let her down.”
When Stringfellow’s name was announced, Harrison and ARIS principal Marcia Stephens screamed. Team Stringfellow came in. Stringfellow’s family watched with smiles on their faces.
“I was in total shock that night,” Stringfellow said.
Alabama State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey saw the presence of Team Stringfellow and thought someone had let the word get out Stringfellow had won.
“I know we have never had a teacher fanclub to show up at the presentation,” Mackey said. “They almost got me in trouble. When they showed up with a bunch of signs, everybody thought I leaked it out this year. We are tight lipped.”
Mackey said nobody knows who the winner is until the announcement, beyond himself and the governor.
When Stringfellow was named as the district winner and then again in the final four, Team Stringfellow gained confidence.
“We had no doubt,” Frasier said. “She is amazing.”
Friday’s car presentation from ALFA and celebration with students was the parade for Team Stringfellow. It was complete with ARIS students singing and dancing for their star teacher.
The quarterback of Team Stringfellow is welcoming her temporary mission sharing her passion for education across Alabama for the next year.
“I’m excited to welcome and mentor new teachers to make sure they feel valued and prepared,” Stringfellow said. “I’m eager to empower our seasoned educators by providing them with the resources and recognition they deserve.”
At the same time, Stringfellow will continue her role as leading Team Stringfellow while following her passion.
“I’m still doing what I loved to do as a child — discovery and sharing the wonder and excitement of learning,” Stringfellow said.
