By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

Brooke Dennis, Thompson High School “Teacher of the Year,” has fond memories of going to her grandmother’s for Thanksgiving.

Through her grandmother, who worked for the Union Springs Herald, Dennis was exposed to writing and began her journalism pathway.

At Pelham High School Dennis joined the Pacesetter, the school newspaper.

After one year she was named editor. “That’s when I decided I wanted a career in journalism,” says Dennis.

Dennis graduated from Pelham High School and then the University of Alabama with a major in broadcast journalism and a minor in English and theater.

She later attended the University of Montevallo and received her master’s degree in education.

During her time at the University of Alabama Dennis had the opportunity to do her internship at Los Angeles news station KCAL-9 as a production assistant with dozens of separate responsibilities.

“After graduation I returned to Los Angeles for two years,” Dennis said. “In 2005 family illness brought me home. I decided to stay.”

Dennis worked for her father’s insurance company for two years, got married and had her first child, Conner, age 8. (Now they also have a daughter Elliot, age 6).  Husband Mark is a Thompson High School graduate and is employed as a software engineer.

Dennis still wanted the TV and film career but didn’t want the crazy hours with a newborn at home.

Teaching seemed to be the perfect fit so she got her teaching certificate.

“God opened the perfect door for me. A position for a broadcast, journalism and theater teacher opened up at Thompson and I am now in my ninth year,” says Dennis.

Nominations for “Teacher of the Year” are made by the teachers and the voting for this honor is done by the teachers.

“This is a huge honor for me to be chosen from such a strong group of teachers, administrators, counselors and staff,” Dennis says. “That alone is very humbling. I am so excited about plans for the new high school. So many opportunities will open for my department.”

“I enjoy making my students challenge themselves,” Dennis says. “I love when they ‘think’ they can’t do something … and then they do it. It makes my day to see them high-five each other when they finish a tough project.”