State Board honors Alabama Teacher of the Year, alternate and district winners

The Alabama State Board of Education on May 9 adopted resolutions honoring Deborah Stringfellow as the 2024–25 Alabama Teacher of the Year and Kira Ledbetter Aaron as the alternate state teacher of the year, and recognized district teachers of the year.

The board read and approved a resolution naming Deborah Stringfellow, a fourth-grade teacher at Airport Road Intermediate School in the Elmore County School System, as the 2024–25 Alabama Teacher of the Year. Miss Bell moved the resolution and it was seconded; the board gave unanimous approval by a show of hands.

The resolution described Stringfellow as a “highly accomplished Alabama educator” who has earned national board certification and advanced degrees, noting she is a first-generation high school and college graduate. On accepting the honor, Deborah Stringfellow, Alabama Teacher of the Year and fourth-grade teacher at Airport Road Intermediate School, thanked educators and said, “As Alabama's teacher of the year, I stand here today to represent the 48,000 teachers who right now are hard at work in the classroom.” She also said her classroom is “our mission field” and closed: “I don't feel that it's my job to shape the road ahead for my students, but to shape my students for the road ahead.”

The board also approved a resolution commending Kira Ledbetter Aaron, of Vestavia Hills High School Freshman Campus in the Vestavia Hills City School System, as the 2024–25 alternate state teacher of the year and secondary teacher of the year. That resolution was moved, seconded and approved unanimously.

Members then moved and approved a motion recognizing the district teachers of the year. Superintendent Dr. Mackey asked the district winners to remain after the meeting for photographs and noted selection committee members were present.

All three resolutions passed by unanimous vote.