Alabama Teacher of the Year Inspires Future Educators at the College of Education and Professional Studies
Posted on April 1, 2025 by Kerry Cohen
The College of Education and Professional Studies recently welcomed Alabama鈥檚 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year, Deborah Stringfellow, to speak with 65 senior student teachers. In a room full of South student teachers, the educator from Airport Road Intermediate School in Elmore County shared stories from her teaching journey and offered valuable insights into building lasting connections with students.
Stringfellow highlighted the importance of mentorship and building relationships beyond the classroom. 鈥淟eadership matters,鈥� she said 鈥淚t matters in the classroom. You鈥檙e a leader in your classroom. You need to develop students who are leaders.鈥�
She also emphasized the importance of reflecting and evolving as a teacher.
鈥淚f you ever end a school year and say, 鈥業鈥檝e got it all together and there鈥檚 nothing to change or do differently,鈥� you鈥檝e missed the mark,鈥� Stringfellow said. 鈥淭eaching is about continuous reflection and growth.鈥�
After hearing from Stringfellow, the student-teachers transitioned to an education career fair featuring 23 school districts from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. There, clusters of students gathered around booths, leaning in as potential employers shared insights about job openings and career opportunities.
鈥淲e are committed to helping our students grow both personally and professionally by providing opportunities to learn from accomplished educators and connect with potential employers,鈥� said Dr. Angela Barlow, dean of College of Education and Professional Studies. 鈥淪upporting our students as they prepare for their careers is one of the goals we work toward each day.鈥�
