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In a heartwarming ceremony held at Selma High School Dec. 12, educators from Selma City schools gathered for a special reception to honor the eight nominees for the coveted Teacher of the Year award. School Superintendent Dr.  Zickeyous Byrd extended a warm welcome and congratulations to the nominees, setting the tone for an evening of recognition and appreciation. The event was catered by the Selma High Culinary Arts Department.

Among the standout nominees were Jasmine Pritchett from Clark Elementary School, Alsace Childs from Sophia P. Kingston Elementary School, and Cynthia Green from Payne Elementary School. Also recognized was James Bearden from RB Hudson Steam Academy and Constance Bowie from Saints Virtual Academy/Alternative Learning Center.

Expressing her gratitude, Teacher of the Year nominee, Mallory Lovell from Meadowview Elementary shared her appreciation for the ceremony.

“It was really an honor just to be nominated. Everything is so nice, and the catering is a real treat,” Lovell said. “Being able to sit and eat with family and colleagues made it truly special.”

In a poignant moment during the ceremony, Athenia Angion, a fifth-grade teacher from Edgewood Elementary, was named the Selma City Schools Elementary Teacher of the Year. Angion graciously thanked the superintendent, her fellow teachers and her family, including her husband, Selma University President Dr. Stanford Angion and her two daughters, who are also educators.

“It was amazing to represent the district and to be a part of it for the last 14 years,” said Angion, a member of the Gamma Alpha Alpha Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. “It really could have been any one of us.”

The secondary Teacher of the Year title was awarded to Darrell Walker, a dedicated teacher at Selma High School. Reflecting on his journey, Walker extended gratitude to his wife,  Dallas County District Court Judge Vernetta Perkins-Walker, school Principal Reggie Glover, coworkers and students.

“To matriculate in these halls when I was a young kid to being Teacher of the Year—wow,” Walker said.

As the Selma City Schools winners move on to the next level of the competition, they will compete against other district winners from across Alabama. The district wishes them success in representing the excellence and dedication of Selma’s educators on a broader stage.