We are absolutely in awe of the teachers nominated for the above and beyond contest. At a time where so many teachers are choosing not to return to the classroom (understandably), the teachers that continue to show up every day and give their best to their students, deserve to be recognized.
We received a total of 94 submissions to our Thank a Teacher, Above and Beyond Contest. Teachers were nominated by fellow teachers, students, family members, and parents of students. It was an absolute joy reading each of the nominations; each one will be shared with the nominated teacher.
There were so many amazing submissions that we couldn’t decide on just sixteen. We selected 21 instead. Each of the listed winners will be profiled in the Spring 2022 issue of Huntsville Magazine. One special cash winner from among this list, will be chosen via Google random selector and awarded a $500 cash prize. The $500 cash prize winner will be announced Friday, February 25th via Instagram live.
Enough waiting right? Here’s the list of amazing teachers in the Huntsville Metro Area who go above and beyond for students and deserve to be praised and recognized!
1. Quanisha Ford, Martin Luther King Jr . Elementary
“Words can’t express how much joy, warmth and intellect Ms. Ford has given these students. She have given her own hard-earned money to provide supplies and experiments for the class; brought in guest speakers on topics that some of these children may not have otherwise experienced. She gives 1000% to her class and school. She motivates her students to be the best they can be and beyond. She is a mother, friend, and teacher to these students. She has created an open line of encouragement and motivation for the parents. Since she has been a teacher at MLK, an increase of parent participation has been higher for her class. She is an awesome woman and teacher. All the while, she encourages her students and demonstrates what excellence is by completing her Master’s, and is now working on her Doctorate’s. She can not only talk about success with her students, she shows them at the same time.”
2. Heather Cleckler, Madison County Elementary School
“Heather is relentless in her advocacy for her special education students and in her leadership development for our 5th through 8th grade students. She goes the extra mile to make sure students have whatever they need from food, clothing, medical needs, but most of all the ability to read! She also sponsors so many events to support student celebrations and supports all the new staff to the school. She easily does the work of five people and our school would be so much less without her?”
3. Julie Sledd, St. John Catholic School
“Julie is a ‘beyond the textbook’ teacher; she constantly seeks interesting content to augment her lessons with. For example, for Black History Month, she researched the story of a former slave that became a missionary to South America.”
4. Monday Sanderson, Liberty Middle School
“She shows compassion for her students. She gets on their level and uses outside incentives to get them interested in the lesson she is teaching. She is a first-year teacher so she will only get better. She tutors on-line two days a week something she started when she was in middle school at her local library in Triana. She is just an overall good person.”
5. Dr. Renita Brazelton, Providence Elementary School
“From the first day of school, Dr. Brazelton has shown her commitment to nurturing and educating her students. She makes a conscious effort to build strong bonds with her students, and develop collaborative partnerships with their families. To simply call her a teacher doesn’t say enough to fully describe what she has been to our child and family this year. She takes the time to truly know and understand him, his strengths, and his individual needs. Dr. Brazelton actively communcates with our family and makes sure that we are active participants in our child’s learning and development. She loves my son and my son loves her. She has truly been a blessing to our family this year and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
6. Lauren Haskins, Hampton Cove Elementary
“I was a little hesitant that Ms Haskins could effectively teach my “spirited child”… boy was I wrong! She was new to HCES this year, but she hopped right in with her other first grade teachers and began to shine. Not only has she taught my child wonderful new things… she has truly forged a friendship that has given my first grader the best impression of school. She’s shown my child how learning can be so fun. Ms Haskins has recently received her Master’s degree. So all of our first semester, she was juggling a full time job and studying. My daughter even chose to get her a “BFF” necklace for part of her Christmas present to Ms Haskins. Of course, she, like other incredible teachers, has had to adapt on a dime when we went virtual a few weeks ago. Ms Haskins has gone above and beyond to instill a love for learning with my kiddo. She’s worth her weight in gold.”
7. April Randall, Hampton Cove Elementary
“Ms Randall is a 20+ year veteran. Most teachers would be burned out by now but not Mrs Randall! Her passion for teaching is still evident, every single day. She loves all of her students and it shows. She encourages each student to give their best effort, and she instills the confidence her students need to succeed. It’s so critical that first grade teachers give kiddos a good first impression of school and learning. She has done just that for my son.”
8. Amanda Smith, Legacy Elementary
“Amanda is very active with her students. She studies each child and determines their needs. She creates and provides engaging lessons everyday. She is a team player and is always willing to lend a helping hand or listening ear. Her students both past and present are welcomed each day with a smiling face and open arms. She takes time each day to write glow and grow notes to her students to ensure that each student gets a note weekly. She provides helpful feedback and suggestions to parents who need strategies to help their child at home. Amanda is knowledgeable of her trade and is eagerly learning each day. It is a joy to work with and learn from her each day!”
9. Michelle Kirkland, McDonnell Elementary
“Hi, I wanted to nominate Michelle Kirkland, she is a 4th grade teacher that has a heart of gold. With Covid-19 numbers being so high, she’s been teaching up to three classes at a time because teachers are far from few. Every time I talk to her, it seems as teaching is only getting harder and harder but she puts her kids first. She wants to make sure that every child gets the education they deserve especially minority children. She’s a rockstar in my eyes because although the easy answer would be to quit and go some place else because of the high stress environment she’s working in, she shows up every day . Day in and day out.Although she’s my friend and I know she’s a great educator I just thought this would be the greatest pick me up if she won. Teachers are always forgotten and I love that y’all are taking the time to recognize them.”
10. Brandy Booker, Hampton Cove Elementary
“She makes all of the kids feel loved!! She celebrates lows and highs. Everything is a win with her. My son had such anxiety coming to school from his prior year in 1st grade but Mrs. Booker turned that around by always praising him, lots of redirecting in a positive way, and giving him responsibilities.”
11. Beth Woodard, Madison Elementary
“All the teachers at MES are amazing, caring teachers. Mrs. Woodard has done so much for the school. One of the biggest projects she’s spearheaded is the Outdoor Classroom, which includes a vegetable garden, composting bin, and butterfly garden. My girls have excitedly told me about the vegetables they grew and ate when ripe, taught me what food scraps can be composted and what cannot, and described their excitement at watching caterpillars morph into butterflies. When I was diagnosed with cancer last year, not only did Mrs. Woodard and other teachers make care packages for me, they also brought meals for our family and gifts for the girls. It made a really hard and scary time a little less so.Mrs. Woodard makes sure every student she teaches learns something new and is challenged every day. We are so grateful for her creativity, compassion, and extra effort!”
12. Adrienne Mann, Grissom High School
“She all ways explains things in a way everyone can understand”
13. Karey Boston, Rainbow Elementary School
“Karey has gone above and beyond, she is often one of the first to get to the school and one of the last ones to leave. She also spends her off-time preparing for her students as well. I may be a little biased because she’s my wife, however, I see the work she puts in during evening and weekends in effort to make sure her students and colleagues have what they need to teach.”
14. Sara Cuel, Rolling Hills Elementary School
“She is a young lady who goes over and beyond teaching, caring and helping in any way to make a difference with all of the children she comes in contact with. Her passion is real and Huntsville City is very fortunate to have her, plus she is honored to be an educator in North Alabama. She takes out of her own pocket to provide items needed without announcing it. Very good at her calling in life and is there to make a difference each day possible.”
15. Dawn Kirby, Owens Cross Roads School
“Mrs. Kirby was a huge support to my daughter as she was going through some very difficult times while in her class. She was always communicative, went out of her way to check on us, made sure to let our daughter know she was loved, and made a point to celebrate all the good things with her. Mrs. Kirby is a glowing example of a teacher going above an beyond for a student in need of additional love outside the home.”
16. Rhaquel Williams, Jones Valley Elementary
“Mrs. Williams was recently on maternity leave and made sure her classroom was handled. When she came back and Huntsville City Schools were suddenly virtual, she came up with a plan over the weekend (with a new baby) and executed it flawlessly. She really looks after her students. My son describes her as “fun, but serious”. You can tell she really enjoys teaching and being with her students. We love Mrs Williams!”
17. Kaylie Ramos, Challenger Middle School
“We’ve said several times this year “we are in survival mode,” but she isn’t. She just can’t operate that way. She consistently goes about above and beyond for our students and she supports me too. She shares her lessons with me and helps me plan the details of my lessons as well. She is always reflecting on what matters-whether she treated a student with respect or ways she can be a better teacher. Our students couldn’t ask for a better English teacher though, and I couldn’t ask for a better next door teacher. She truly embodies our districts motto- innovative, imaginative, and inclusive.”
18. Theo Vernon, Grissom High School
“Mr. Vernon has been with the Grissom band over over 25 yrs. He is a wonderful teacher who provides exceptional skills to the kids, teaching them how to give themselves 100% into something that has such a satisfaction with the end product. Mr. Vernon is a wonderful teacher who gives the students 100% of himself. No one deserves this recognition more than him.”
19. Miranda Watson, Mount Gap Middle School
“Mrs Watson goes out of her way each and every day to make sure her students are caught up on all of their upcoming assignments, she provides extra instruction on any subject that her students are struglling in to make sure no student falls behind. She personally monitors any concerning behavoir and is always eager to chat should any concerns arise. I never have to worry about my son because I know that Mrs. Watson is always there for him and always has his back! She puts love and passion into her job and it clearly shows. I wish that every kid could have a “Mrs. Watson” to support them.”
20. Alexander Mercieca, New Century Technology High School
“He does so much for this school. He hosts two clubs, Key Club and Crossfit. He has one of the most interactive classes I’ve ever been in, as well as that class being an AP class. He hosted the very recent Valentine’s Dnace, and that was amazing. And finally, he is really donw to earth with his students, being there kinda like a councler would, always willing to chill and laugh with the rest of us.”
21. Rachel McAtee, Creekside Elementary School
“When my son was home sick with Covid-19, he missed celebrating his birthday with his class. Mrs. McAtee had all of the kids in his class make him birthday cards and she bought him a couple of gifts. She dropped them off on our front porch after school on his birthday. It made his day and he read those cards over and over and over again.”
