For the first time, the Hoover School System formally recognized its finest educators with a Teacher Recognition Banquet April 14.

The banquet, which honored 32 teachers from the system, was held at the Hoover Country Club. Six teachers from schools in Shelby County were honored. All the teachers were either named teachers of the year or were named nominees for the Jacksonville State University Hall of Fame.

Hoover Schools spokesperson Jason Gaston said it was time for the system to honor its best teachers.

“We were long overdue as a system when it came to having a formal recognition of our teachers. They are honored in various ways each year at the school level, but there’s never been a coordinated effort to recognize our teachers at the district level,” he said. “This banquet was truly a tribute to our outstanding educators.”

From Greystone Elementary School, Birki Cvacho was named teacher of the year, while Susan Larkin was the Jacksonville State University Hall of Fame nominee.

Melody Greene was named teacher of the year for Berry Middle School, while Marion Noojin was the JSU Hall of Fame nominee.

For Spain Park High School, Jesse Tilton was named teacher of the year and Joe Carter was named the JSU Hall of Fame nominee.

The banquet was funded through corporate and private donors.