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By NOAH WORTHAM | Staff Writer 

ALABASTER – The Alabaster City Council chamber was recently packed with family, friends, teachers and administrators in recognition of Alabaster City Schools 2024 Teachers of the Year.

The ACS Teachers of the Year and members of the Board of Education were recognized during an Alabaster City Schools BOE meeting on Monday, Jan. 8.

“This is one of my favorite board meetings of the entire year,” ACS Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers said. “It’s our chance to honor our teachers of the year but also honor our board members— it’s really a special board meeting and certainly a lot of fun and just a great time.”

During the recognition, members of the ACS Board of Education presented plaques to its chosen teachers of the year for each individual school as well as overall Teachers of the Year for Elementary and Secondary schools.

Bonnie Maddox was named Creek View Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year. Maddox has 10 years of experience and serves as a third grade teacher at CVES.

Meadow View Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Melissa Smith, who has 22 years of experience and currently serves as a special education teacher at MVES.

Terri McGaughy was recognized as Thompson Intermediate School’s Teacher of the Year. McGaughy has 27 years of experience and serves as a fifth grade teacher at TIS.

Lakesha Fleming was honored as Thompson Middle School’s Teacher of the Year. Fleming has 23 years of experience and works as a sixth grade English Language Arts teacher at TMS.

Thompson High School’s Teacher of the Year was awarded to Doug Norris, who has 37 years of experience. Norris teaches geometry and honors geometry at THS.

“Every one of the individuals recognized this evening are outstanding teachers,” Vickers said. “I’m so proud of each and every one of them.”

After recognizing the winners for individual schools, the BOE then named the overall winners for elementary and secondary education.

Maddox was declared the 2024 Teacher of the Year for elementary education and Norris was named the 2024 Teacher of the Year for secondary education.

“Our teacher of the year recognition program, I want to compliment central office and the way they handle it,” Vickers said. “I want to tell you how proud I am and how proud I am of the 10 years of progress we’ve had since we started as a school system.”

After honoring the teachers of the year, principals and representatives from each school came and presented gifts to members of the ACS Board of Education—letting them know how much the schools value each member’s service.

“This is my 17th year of being a superintendent (and) this is my third school system—you’re only as good as the quality of the five board members who sit at this table,” Vickers said. “It is a very serious position for people to be appointed to the school board. It is an honor to serve with this group. They are intelligent, they are dedicated and they care about the children that we serve.”

After each principal presented gifts from their respective schools to the board members, Alabaster Mayor Scott Brakefield spoke during public comment and offered his gratitude to the board of education.

“Thank you for everything you do for our school system, but not only our school system but our community,” he said. “I truly view Alabaster City Schools as our number one economic engine that helps us from commercial development to residential development (and) growth—attracting anybody and everybody.”

In other news, during the remainder of the BOE meeting, the board approved an out-of-state field trip request from THS for the Georgia Theatre in Georgia and two upgrades to THS at the recommendation of Volkert, Inc.

The BOE also approved a $70,000 upgrade to Thompson Middle School at the recommendation of Volkert, Inc.—adding a covering to shield students from rain on an outside walkway.

“There was already a walkway but our students, sometimes during rain, had to walk outside,” Vickers said.

The next regularly scheduled ACS Board of Education meeting is set to take place on Monday, Feb. 12.