Selma City Schools recently recognized “Teachers of the Year” from all of its 11 schools.

“We are excited to recognize academic excellence amongst our teachers,” said Selma City Schools Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams. “These teachers were selected because they continuously prove themselves as professionals and exemplary in their field.

Two district winners will be selected next month and will go on to represent the city in the statewide selection.

Statewide winners will be announced in Spring 2019 and go on to represent the state in the national selection process, which will take place in November 2019.

“Teacher of the Year” nominations are open to “any public school certified classroom teacher, librarian, counselor or other certified individual whose major responsibility is to work with children in a P-12 setting and provide learning opportunities to meet the academic goals and graduation requirements set by the Alabama State Board of Education.

Local sponsors for this year’s “Teacher of the Year” selection are Children’s Dentistry of Central Alabama, Al Perry and Valic Financial Advisors, Vaughan Regional Medical Center, Rodger Construction, McKee & Associates and Trinity Lutheran Church.

Selma’s “Teacher of the Year” contenders are:

Shelbra McDonald

McDonald is a pre-kindergarten teacher at Byrd First Class Learning Center, where she has worked for the last four years.

McDonald worked as an auxiliary teacher for Selma City Schools for four years, during which time she received her Bachelor of Science in education. Since beginning her time at Byrd, McDonald has gone on to earn her master’s degree.

For her work, McDonald received the 2018 Rising Star Award from the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education.

Krystal Dozier

Dozier is Cedar Park Elementary School’s Library Media Specialist and a product of Selma City Schools.

She received her Bachelor of Science in early education from Concordia College Alabama and her master’s degree in School Library Media from the University of West Alabama.

Dozier is a former employee in state and city government and a member of the historical Tabernacle Baptist Church.

She also serves on the Planning Committee for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Ashara Hicks

Hicks is a fourth-grade teacher at Clark Elementary School and a graduate of Concordia College Alabama, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in elementary education. She earned her master’s degree in curriculum instruction from Concordia College in Portland.

Hicks has a graduate endorsement in Teacher Leadership and recently became an AMSTI Math Trainer. She also participates in the Extended Day program and the Summer Enrichment program.

Justin Kelly

Kelly is a Physical Education teacher at Edgewood Elementary School and a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Alabama State University, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in physical education.

Kelly is lead sponsor for Men in Motion and Chairman of the Positive Behavioral Intervention Support Team.

Sharon Williams

Williams is a kindergarten teacher at Knox Elementary School and has 38 years of experience as an educator. Before taking on her role as a kindergarten teacher, Williams worked as a Math Lab teacher and a sixth-grade teacher.

Williams earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in education at the University of West Alabama.

Rita Carmichael

Carmichael is a fifth-grade teacher at Meadowview Elementary School, a post she’s held for eight years. Before taking on this role, Carmichael worked as a reading and mathematics instructor at the St. Edmund Learning Center for seven years, as well as a GED teacher and math tutor.

While working as a pre-kindergarten assistant at Edgewood Elementary school, Carmichael received her Bachelor of Science in education at Concordia College Alabama.

Sherita Simmons

Simmons is a first-grade teacher at Payne Elementary School and is certified to teach language arts, reading, math, science and social studies.

Simmons holds multiple master’s degrees in areas such as early childhood, elementary education, management and curriculum and instruction. She is currently completing her doctorate in curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Jacqueline Peoples

Peoples is a Selma native and a science teacher at R.B. Hudson Middle School, as well as Head of the Science Department, with 25 years of experience. She started her career at McKenzie School in Butler.

Peoples holds a Master of Education from Alabama State University and is currently working to earn her education specialist degree from Auburn University in Montgomery and aims to complete her doctorate in administration before retiring.

Peoples has taken part in a number of science initiatives, including Science In Motion, the Alabama Math and Science Teaching Initiative and the Math and Science Partnership.

Jacqueline Lucy

Lucy has been an educator in Selma City Schools for 11 years, the majority of which were spent at the School of Discovery. Lucy graduated with honors from Concordia College Alabama with an Associate of Arts degree in early childhood education.

After receiving her associate’s degree, Lucy went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education and a master’s degree from the University of West Alabama.

Lucy was awarded the 2010 Golden Apple Award and the 2016 Make A Difference Award.

Mashika Tempero-Culliver

Tempero-Culliver is a science teacher at Selma High School. Having grown up in poverty, Tempero-Cullver was awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship to pursue her education at Auburn University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences.

Tempero-Culliver went on to earn a Master of Education degree in secondary biology from Auburn University in Montgomery, an education specialist degree in instructional technology from the same institution and is now a prospective PhD student.

Kimberly McKinley

McKinley is a third-grade teacher at Sophia Phelena Kingston Elementary School, where she first worked from 2013 until 2016. McKinley has also served as a cheerleading advisor and substitute instructor for the after-school program at the school.

McKinley worked as a math, science and social studies teacher at Jackson-Steele Elementary in Lowndes before returning to Selma last year.

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