The Whit King, Jr. Awards
Loren Springer of Bob Jones High School
2020 The Whit King, Jr. Excellence in the Teaching of Economics Award Winner "It’s because her passion and energy and knowledge about how students learn best is top notch and she doesn’t ever -- ever -- take a break from finding the best resources and the best instructional practices for her students. To truly describe a teacher like Mrs. Springer is difficult because her craft sometimes cannot be put into words, and often times it is best observed by being present in her classroom and seeing the students come in and greet Mrs. Springer and excitedly ask what they are doing each day. That’s where I see the impact of teachers like Mrs. Springer, when their students want to know what they’re doing before the teacher can even tell them."
Loren Spring is pictured with Sylvia Lambert, Bob Jones High School Principal |
Jane Schaefer of Vestavia Hills High School
2019 The Whit King, Jr. Excellence in the Teaching of Economics Award Winner "The Whit King Award is for an inspirational and innovative applicant who promotes excellence in K-12 economic education. I cannot think of a teacher more qualified or more deserving than Jane Schaefer. Mrs. Schaefer holds herself to the same standard to which she holds her students—she works every day to be better than she was the day before. She pushes herself to grow alongside her students, and she has raised the standard of excellence at Vestavia Hills High School. Teachers like Mrs. Schaefer make the teaching profession great!"
Jane Schaefer is pictured with Jim Creamer, Chair of ACEE's Board of Directors |
Suzanne Bailey of Virgil Grissom High School
2018 The Whit King, Jr. Excellence in the Teaching of Economics Award Winner "Rarely do even the best teachers have that ability to infuse rigor and demand the highest quality of work from each of their students. Suzanne demonstrated that ability as I observed her utilize the standards of differentiated learning so that even the students who struggle the most in her classroom were able to make progress. She clearly demonstrated her passion for economics as she engaged her students with student-centered and inquiry-based teaching strategies regarding the concept of scarcity when examining the Industrial Period of the late 19th century."
"Suzanne understands that in order for students to be successful, teachers need to improve their craft as a professional. That is why she is devoted in developing, implementing, and sustaining quality professional development programs for teachers across the state of Alabama." Suzanne Bailey is pictured with Whit King, Jr.'s son, Peyton King |