Christie Finley
Teachers who inspire leave an indelible mark on their students, shaping their futures in profound ways. Mrs. Annie Burwell, the third-grade teacher at West Madison Elementary School in Madison, Alabama, was one such teacher, and I am forever grateful that she was my teacher. She had a unique talent for recognizing and addressing the individual needs of each student. During a time when math was a tremendous struggle for me and complicated further due to a medical issue that
prevented me from participating in PE, she went above and beyond by working one-on-one with me during her planning time. Her dedication was evident in every extra moment she spent helping me grasp the challenging concepts.
Mrs. Burwell did not just teach; she inspired. Her passion for education and genuine care for her students ignited a desire for me to become a teacher. She had a remarkable way of making each student feel seen and capable, pushing us to meet and exceed the third-grade standards. Her classroom was where we all aspired to improve because she believed in us and challenged us to achieve more than we thought possible.
Her impact extended far beyond academics. She nurtured our confidence, encouraged our curiosity, and instilled a love for learning that I still carry with me today. Mrs. Burwell’s teaching was not just about textbooks and tests; it was about molding us into better individuals and showing us the value of hard work and perseverance. I am very grateful for Mrs. Burwell and the profound impact she had on my life. Her unwavering belief in her students left a lasting impression on me, guiding me toward a career in education. Mrs. Burwell is a true inspiration. Thank you for believing in me and all the students you taught. We love you.
Sarah Johnson
When I was asked to pick my favorite teacher of all time, it was hard to pick because I was blessed with so many great ones. One in particular stood out in my head though… Mrs. Pike, 5th grade, Jones valley elementary in 1989. She was fun, kind and most of all she made us feel so loved. It is probably the most memorable year for me not only because of my wonderful teacher but because my entire school was destroyed by a tornado on November 15, 1989. I’ll never forget that day, that year, or my fabulous teacher who helped mend us back from feeling shattered on our last year of elementary school. Thankfully, Challenger Elementary and Middle had just opened and they had enough room for our entire school to come there to finish out our last year. You always hear that kids will not remember what they learned as much as they will remember how you made them feel. This is so true for Mrs Pike. The year kept going on as if nothing had happened and she kept on teaching us and comforting us! It was so helpful to have a teacher who made me feel good THAT particular year. We all learned that the fact that we had each other and nobody in our class was hurt on that terrible day was the most important thing of all. I’m so thankful that Mrs. Pike made learning fun. What a blessing she was and still is. I still see her from time to time, and to this day she smiles and knows exactly who I am. You can’t ask for a better teacher than that! Now, I am on my 20th year of teaching and strive to make my students feel loved and make learning fun daily, just as she did with me. Thanks for inspiring me, Mrs. Pike!
Bart Siniard
When I was 16 years-old at Huntsville High School, I was a student of Mike Chappell. He taught drama/theater and a class on psychology. To be clear, I had zero interest in theater. At the time, I was a three sport athlete and, admittedly, looked down on theater as a hobby for oddballs. But Mr. Chappell’s personality was just absolutely magnetic. He was hilarious. You could tell he genuinely enjoyed teaching kids, but more importantly, breaking down the artificial barriers of high school cliques. And his primary tool to shatter these barriers was theater. By the second month of being in Mr. Chappell’s class, he had convinced me to give theater a try. Some of my friends on the football team scoffed at me, but I tried to brush it off. It’s true I was a little hesitant about the whole thing. I would be hanging out with a bunch of my classmates that I had never bothered to associate with. And acting? I had no clue how to do it. But I loved it. I got to make new friends with totally different viewpoints and backgrounds. For the first time in my life, I could see there was so much more value to be had in life than the simple concern of “being cool.” The entire experience broadened my outlook on life. It forced me to realize that everyone in this world has something valuable to offer. It also provided the collateral benefit of overcoming stage fright and honing my public speaking skills. Most importantly, when all of us stepped onto that stage, there were no longer any divisions between us. Jocks, nerds, gamers, goths, [insert any other label you want], all came together to put on a performance. We all stood together. The artificial barriers ceased to exist. I stuck with theater, and by my junior year I was cast in a lead role. To to make matters even better, some of my football buddies who previously laughed at me auditioned and were cast in supporting roles. Teaching is so much more than classroom instruction. It can be much, much more powerful than that. It certainly was in the classroom of Mike Chappell.
Sharon Dublin
As a student, you never realize how much certain teachers are having an impact on you. Mr. Roberts stands out to me as one of the most selfless teachers I ever had. He went above and beyond to foster my success in math, which developed a passion in me to pass that love along to future generations of students.
He was my Geometry teacher my Freshman year of high school, and the following summer he took time out of his own break to teach me Algebra 2. After learning Algebra II, I was excited to be on the fast track to learn more, so he used his planning period during my sophomore year to tutor me in Precalculus as independent study. This allowed me to enroll in Calculus the first semester of my Junior year, therefore all of my required math was completed in 2.5 years.
The extra time and attention that he sacrificed to cultivate my love for math is something I do not take for granted. I am proud to be following in his footsteps as a math teacher at Challenger Middle School, and I hope to be able to instill the same excitement in my own students. Mr. Roberts has become one of my most valued colleagues. He is a mentor who provides no shortage of life and teaching advice, and I now consider him a good friend.