Reading coach among ‘Sweet 16’ finalists for Teacher of the Year
Sandy Ritchey, a reading coach at Mountain Brook Elementary, recently learned she had been named among the "Sweet 16" finalists for the 2016-17 Alabama Teacher of the Year award. Ritchey, who has been at the school since 2013, said it is her students who got her to where she is. During a recognition ceremony at the Mountain Brook Board of Education monthly meeting on April 11, Ritchey thanked the board, the school staff and her students.
“I have the pleasure of walking with champions everyday at Mountain Brook Schools,” Ritchey said while addressing the crowd.
Ritchey said it was clear early on that in Mountain Brook, teachers, staff and parents don’t give up on students. In thanking those she works with, Ritchey said she believes it is only great leaders who can grow other great leaders.
“I’m so proud to be part of this team,” she said.
According to her Mountain Brook Schools online profile, Ritchey holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, a Master's degree in Elementary Education, an Administrative certificate and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership. Prior to joining CES, she worked as a Literacy Coach in Hoover as well as the former assistant principal at Gwin Elementary School and has over 10 years of experience.
Superintendent Dicky Barlow said if it were up to the BOE, Ritchey would of course be selected as Teacher of the Year.
Ritchey is among 15 other finalists who emerged from a group of more than 140 educators from across the state who submitted applications for the Alabama Teacher of the Year Program.
From here, the pool of 16 will be narrowed down to four finalists before the 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year is announced at a ceremony hosted by the Alabama State Board of Education and the Alabama State Department of Education on May 11 at the RSA Plaza Terrace in Montgomery.
“The educators nominated for this prestigious award nurture the character, intellect, and talent of Alabama’s students, and are committed to helping their students achieve success in the classroom and beyond,” said Sherrill Parris, Senior Deputy State Superintendent of Education in a news release. “They exemplify teaching at its best, and we are proud to have them teaching in our state.”
Once selected, Alabama’s Teacher of the Year spends the majority of the school year serving as a full-time ambassador for education and the teaching profession as well as presenting workshops to various groups. Alabama Teacher of the Year is also a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year.
Alabama’s current Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Brown, said it has been an honor and a privilege to represent Alabama’s educators.
“I am grateful to have been granted the opportunity to visit, observe, and share stories from many of the classrooms of our teacher champions of Alabama,” said Brown.
The other elementary teacher finalists:
► Kelly Cleere, Orange Beach Elementary, Baldwin County Schools
► Dawn Davis, Montana Street Magnet, Dothan City Schools
► Mikki Powell, Rock Quarry Elementary, Tuscaloosa City Schools
► Dawn Judy Ellis, Peter Crump Elementary, Montgomery County Schools
► Connie Bowman, Iola Roberts Elementary, Pell City Schools
► Nancy Spencer Brandon, Rainbow Elementary, Madison City Schools
► Kathryne Flippo, Bluff Park Elementary School, Hoover City Schools
The other secondary teacher finalists are:
► Judy Peacock Bridges, Baldwin County High, Baldwin County Schools
► Kathryn Johnson Enos, Enterprise High, Enterprise City Schools
► Joseph Smith III, John Herbert Phillips Academy, Birmingham City Schools
► John Conway, Booker T. Washington Magnet High, Montgomery County Schools
► Kate White, Guntersville High, Guntersville City Schools
► Dana Jacobson, Clay-Chalkville High, Jefferson County Schools
► Carol Bohatch, James Clemens High, Madison City Schools
► Vinny Chiaramonte, Bumpus Middle School, Hoover City Schools