By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HOOVER—Teaching has always been a calling for Spain Park High School’s Dr. Pamela Harman. The career Hoover City Schools science teacher was recently inducted to the Jacksonville State University Teachers Hall of Fame.

The JSU Teacher Hall of Fame was started in 1969 to “honor and recognize the classroom teachers of the public schools in Alabama,” according to the website. Every year, teachers from each public school system are selected by their peers to be nominated for the Hall of Fame. Three teachers are selected from all the nominees to receive the honor.

According to the university, teachers selected to the Hall of Fame must demonstrate “exemplary standards” of behavior and leadership, work well with peers and colleagues, “encourage, inspire and motivate students” and love teaching, all of which describes Harman.

Harman started her teaching career at Hoover High School in 1997, but the story really begins far earlier.

Harman was inspired to teach after witnessing her brother’s struggle with school before eventually dropping out of high school. She said she believes if he had a teacher who “saw him as a person… encouraged him to reach beyond his potential,” his life would have turned out differently. Harman’s brother committed suicide four years ago.

“I think about him every single time I step into the classroom,” Harman said. “As teachers, our job is to look at your students, and smile at them, make them feel welcome and cared for in your classroom.”

Harman also seeks to inspire her students to achieve their goals in the classroom and beyond. The first in her family to graduate from high school, Harman now holds various higher degrees, including her doctorate.

“I came from nothing,” Harman said, explaining she hopes to show her students “whatever goal they set in life, if they work hard, if they really want it, they can achieve it.”

Harman, accompanied by her husband, was honored as a JSU Teacher Hall of Fame inductee on May 22 at an awards banquet.

“What I loved most about it was to be able to go with my husband,” Harman said. “He’s really the reason I’ve accomplished all that I’ve accomplished.”

A former member of the Marine Corps, National Board Certified teacher and 18-year Hoover City Schools faculty member, Harman joins 12 other Hoover City Schools teachers in the JSU Teacher Hall of Fame.