By Dan WhisenhuntStaff Writer
03-25-2008
03-25-2008
Two local teachers are on a short list of finalists for Alabama's Teacher of the Year award, the Alabama Department of Education reported Monday.
Amber Trantham, a third-grade teacher at Alexandria Elementary School and Deedee Adams, a math teacher at Oxford High School, made the department's "sweet 16" list of educators from around the state.
The department will select the "final four" from the list in April, according to a press release. The state will pick its teacher of the year at a reception May 7.
Trantham and Adams both say they are excited and honored.
"I know we have a lot of good teachers in our system, and to be selected by our principal to apply for it is a real honor," Adams said. "It's a real great recognition."
"I'm very proud of the things I have done along with my colleagues here," Trantham said.
Both of their principals spoke highly of the two teachers.
"She cares about kids," Oxford High Principal Trey Holladay said of Adams, adding, "She continually cares about their education."
Alexandria Elementary Principal Sarah McClure described Trantham as someone who works hard at her job both in and out of the classroom.
"The first year she was here with us was the same year as Hurricane Katrina, and as a project for her classroom she started getting some donations and collecting things, and she and her husband took a truck down to New Orleans," McClure said. "She does things to really reach children and really motivate them."
