The Alabama State Board of Education on May 11, 2023, adopted a series of unanimous resolutions honoring teachers, schools and student programs during its meeting at the Gordon Persons Building Auditorium in Montgomery.

The board adopted resolutions naming Jeffrey Landon Norris as the 2023–24 Alabama Teacher of the Year and Kevin Jacob Pusely as the alternate state teacher of the year, and it recognized district teachers of the year across the state. The board also approved resolutions honoring winners of student contests and school awards, including Devita Nyack of Berry (Bronx Gap Intermediate School in the Hoover City School System) for the Bringing Our Missing Children Home poster contest, Shades Mountain Elementary and Gulf Shores City Schools for nominations for the Alabama Green Ribbon Schools Award, and Piedmont and Newton elementaries as National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) distinguished schools.

Board members also approved a resolution recognizing the Legislative Student Performance Program award, a resolution honoring Alabama’s Grow Our Own initiative and the Future Teachers of Alabama program, and the appointment of a 2023–24 state textbook committee for cosmetology and barbering, education and training, and hospitality and tourism career and technical education clusters. Each resolution was adopted by voice vote; the meeting record shows the board declared each vote unanimous.

Jeffrey Landon Norris, introduced at the meeting as the state teacher of the year, spoke briefly and said he had “come up with one word, which is wow,” and added that “a teacher makes a difference every single day” and that teachers “work hard and teachers love what they do.” Dr. Mackey offered a report preceding the recognitions, noting the agenda’s May focus on celebrations tied to end-of-year school events.

All motions to adopt the listed resolutions were made and seconded on the record and carried by unanimous voice vote. No public speakers had signed up for the meeting prior to the votes, and board minutes show no recorded dissent.

The board announced the next regular meeting for June 8, 2023, at 10 a.m. in the Gordon Persons Building Auditorium.