The Jefferson County Board of Education (JEFCOED) and the Jefferson County Schools Education Foundation announced Tuesday night that Grantswood Community School’s Andrea Riley (elementary division) and Gardendale High School’s Alex Lewis (secondary division) are the 2022-2023 Teachers of the Year for the school district.
Andrea Riley teaches kindergarten at Grantswood. Among her other accomplishments, Mrs. Riley is responsible for “Mad Science Thursday” with a focus on hands-on learning.
Riley explains that she believes that hands-on learning and student involvement are the keys to successful teaching. Her educational philosophy is that a strong teacher can have a lifelong influence on the success of a student beginning in kindergarten.
Alex Lewis teaches social studies, Holocaust studies, psychology, and advanced placement (AP) psychology at Gardendale High School. Mr. Lewis also volunteers with the marching band and is the sole sponsor of the student government organization. He also coaches varsity girls soccer and varsity boys tennis.
Lewis said that he believes heavily in civic engagement and takes every opportunity to encourage students to be involved in local and national politics.
Dr. Walter Gonsoulin is the superintendent of education for Jefferson County schools.
“I would like to thank both of these teachers for their commitment to our district and their students,” Gonsoulin said. “I sincerely appreciate their efforts and their passion for education. What they do on a daily basis makes a difference in students’ lives.”
Both Riley and Lewis will now go on to compete for Alabama Teacher of the Year.
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