By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

It’s an honor to be selected to any position by your peers.

Ashley Vann, fourth grade reading teacher at Thompson Intermediate School, is “Teacher of The Year.”

Vann, who doesn’t “seek the lime light,” is proud to represent all the teachers at TIS.

Born in Meridian, Miss., and raised in Quitman, Vann’s favorite childhood memory is playing on her grandparent’s farm, cooking with her grandmother and reading books.

Vann played French horn in high school, was a member of the rifle corps and drum major of the Quitman High band.

She was also very active in her church.

After high school Vann graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a B.S. in elementary education and later married Larry Vann.

For several years afterward, the Vanns relocated often (due to the nature of Larry’s occupation).

Ashley has taught in Hattiesburg Public Schools; Dallas, Texas Public Schools; Alexander City Schools; American Christian Academy; Shelby County Schools; and now in the Alabaster City School System.

For nine years she has called Alabaster home.

What Ashley likes most about her job is the great faculty, staff and administration and the freedom and support from the Alabaster City School System that allows individual teaching styles.

“When a student is very enthusiastic about reading, shows compassion for others and writes their own stories, it just “makes my day,” says Ashley.

Members of Westwood Baptist Church, Ashley has been on several mission trips to Swaziland, Africa, where some dear friends of hers are full-time missionaries.

“Our church supports a care point there that feeds and ministers to orphans in that community,” she said. “I would love to go Israel and several places throughout Europe, but the next thing on my schedule is to return to college to complete my master’s degree.”

Those that complete Ashley’s family are her children Alexis, a University of Alabama graduate; Liz, a student at the University of Montevallo; Caleb, a Jeff State student; and Abby, who is a senior at Thompson High School.