Katie Collins, a first-grade teacher at Bluff Park Elementary School in Hoover, was named Alabama’s Teacher of the Year on Wednesday in a ceremony at the Shakespeare Festival's Globe Theatre in Montgomery.
Collins will now work for a year as the state’s official ambassador for the teaching profession.
Named Alternate State Teacher of the Year was Aubrey Bennett of George Washington Carver High School in North Birmingham.
The two had competed with two other finalists:
- Katherine A. Thomas – Edgewood Elementary School, Homewood
- Amanda Gudmundsson – Athens High School, Athens
Collins, in her 20th year of teaching, began her career at Thompson High School in Alabaster in 2005, teaching French, ACT preparation and computer science.
But high school was not really her calling. After two years, she moved to Hoover City Schools, where she taught first grade and English as a Second Language at Gwin and Bluff Park Elementary Schools and French and English as a Second Language at Bumpus and Simmons middle schools. She also previously taught a community family literacy program for adults from other countries while at Gwin. She found her sweet spot at the elementary level.
Geri Evans, a fellow teacher at Bluff Park who was Hoover’s 2021-2022 Elementary Teacher of the Year, said of Collins:
“She combines subjects seamlessly into meaningful units of study that require in-depth thinking and hands-on learning,” Evans wrote. “Every student in one of Mrs. Collins’ classes has felt loved and genuinely cared for, as she prioritizes relationship building alongside instilling a love for learning.”
Collins is known for her project-based learning units, including a farmers market in which first-grade students grow plants, market them, and sell them to the community. The students measure the plants and record observations, do persuasive writing and video recordings to market the plants, and count and track the money as it is received.
Last year, the students raised $4,000 with proceeds going to other projects at the school.
Collins has secured more than $70,000 worth of grants over the years, including funding for Bluff Park Elementary’s greenhouse, which further gives students hands-on experience with botany.
Collins is a certified Google Classroom Educator and Distinguished Modern Classroom Educator. She holds certifications for English as a Second Language and Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling. In addition to her classroom work, Collins serves on multiple district committees.
Collins has always wanted to be a teacher. She took a one-year break from public schools and taught in a private preschool when her children were younger,r but was called back into the classroom full time when her kids started kindergarten.
George Washington Carver High School Teacher Aubrey Bennett was named Alabama’s Alternate State Teacher of the Year. This historic school is located in the Birmingham City School System.
Growing up in a single-parent household shaped Aubrey Bennett into the teacher he is today. Without a father at home to guide him, he found himself in an inspiring social studies classroom that ultimately changed his life forever. His fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Sampson, ignited an enthusiasm for social studies and a thirst for knowledge. Sampson demonstrated an amazing ability to analyze history and current events. This set in motion the positive path that Bennett ultimately took to become a top educator.
Today, Bennett works to inspire young people just like his teacher did for him. He knows his students see him as more than just a teacher but a positive mentor. He wants them to understand the world around them, to think critically, and to form their own opinions.
The four finalists had been chosen from sixteen district winners selected from the eight state board of education districts, one elementary winner, and one secondary winner in each district.
The State Board of Education and the Alabama Department of Education hosted the ceremony honoring all 16 district winners and naming the State Teacher of the Year and Alternate.
The sixteen district winners included:
- Catherine Megan Hockey, Rainbow Elementary School (District VIII Elementary Teacher of the Year)
- Heather Oden Pettit, Arab High School (District VI Secondary Teacher of the Year)
- Andrew Lee Mills, Florence Middle School (District VII Secondary Teacher of the Year)
- Deidra Brewer, Highland Park and Webster Elementary Schools (District VII Elementary Teacher of the Year)
- Angela Kirby, Gulf Shores Middle School (District I Elementary Teacher of the Year)
- Kristen Madsen, Gulf Shores High School (District I Secondary Teacher of the Year)
- Amy Garrett, Center for Advanced Academics and Accelerated Learning (District II Elementary Teacher of the Year)
- Joshua Wine, Auburn Junior High School (District II Secondary Teacher of the Year)
- Kristin Bundren, Spain Park High School (District III Secondary Teacher of the Year)
- Lindsey Norris, Forest Avenue Elementary School (District V Elementary Teacher of the Year)
- Roseann Byrd, Citronelle High School (District V Secondary Teacher of the Year)
- Andrea Dade Horn, Locust Fork Elementary School (District VI Elementary Teacher of the Year)
As state winner, Collins will advance to the nationals and compete with 57 other state-level winners for National Teacher of the Year. She will also serve for a year as a full-time ambassador for education and the teaching profession and will conduct professional workshops.
The selection process started last fall with 155 teachers in the running. That number was later narrowed to the 16 finalists.
National Teacher of the Year and 58 state-level competitions, including Alabama, are organized by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). It is the only national education nonprofit that represents all 58 leaders of K-12 education systems in every state, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense, the Bureau of Indian Education, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. Collectively, the organization impacts the educational needs of:
- 50 million students
- 3.8 million teachers
- 98,200 schools
- 13,600 school districts
CCSSO's National Teacher of the Year Program has been the country's most prestigious teacher recognition program for 70 years. The program provides exceptional educators a platform to elevate issues affecting teachers and their students.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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