By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

Carla Milstead, better known as “Miss Carla” to dozens and dozens of 4-year-old kindergarten students, has been a teacher at First Baptist of Alabaster for 14 years.

A graduate of Berry High School in Hoover in 1975, she then received her degree from the University of Montevallo in 1978.

She had a secretarial career at Southern Company Services for over 22 years before retiring and pursuing her teaching career at First Baptist of Alabaster.

“I really enjoy working with the children and want to see them learn and grow to be successful,” she said. “Every day I look forward to giving love and encouragement to the children. Working with other teachers is important and each day provides us with a different adventure. I see each child as an individual with their own God-given gifts and talents. It excites me to see how God uses each child as they grow older.”

Seems that Milstead really loves the kiddies. At her own home church, Westwood Baptist, she is in outreach and is involved with “children’s church.”

High words of praise for Milstead come from Caroline Fulmer, who is the kindergarten director at First Baptist of Alabaster.

“Carla puts herself on the level of the child in order to better understand the child,” Fulmer said. “She is dependable, adaptable and very loving to her kids.”

In her spare time, Milstead enjoys gardening, reading, relaxing at the beach (Gulf Shores) or at their place on Lay Lake with friends and family.

As far as travel, one of her most enjoyable vacations came when she and her sister Linda took their children to the Bahamas, St. Martin and St. Thomas on what she called a “girls vacation.”

Her favorite childhood memories revolve around “at home holidays” with her family and loved ones.

Husband Bobby Milstead is retired from Southern Nuclear and daughter Allison, age 24, is a graduate of Troy University.

Milstead reminds everyone that registration at First Baptist of Alabaster will begin on Feb. 1. This includes K-3, K-4 and K-5 classes.