By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

HOOVER — A Hoover City Schools teacher was named the state Teacher of the Year during an Alabama Public Television broadcast May 9.

Suzanne Culbreth, a geometry teacher from Spain Park High School, was named Alabama Teacher of the Year after the list of finalists for the honor was cut from 16 in early April to four going into the May 9 broadcast.

The final four included another Hoover City Schools teacher, Mandy Fox, a gifted education teacher from Greystone Elementary School.

“I’m very honored and humbled and thankful to my family and my Spain Park High School family for supporting me,” she said.

State Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice said Culbreth is a passionate teacher who can capably show students the relevance of mathematics in today’s world.

“She is a highly respected teacher leader who, in any conversation I have ever had with her, always brings to focus what is right for students,” he said.

As state Teacher of the Year, Culbreth will spend the majority of the school year serving as the spokesperson for education and the teaching profession, as well as presenting workshops. She will also be a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year Award.

Each school system across the state had the opportunity to nominate an elementary teacher and a secondary teacher for the award.