The Whit King, Jr. Awards
Valerie Thornton of Central High School
2023 The Whit King, Jr. Excellence in the Teaching of Personal Finance Award Winner Mrs. Thornton is an outstanding business finance and marketing teacher who works tirelessly to build relationships with her students while equipping them with the skills they need to become successful adults. Her colleagues state that she demonstrates passion and enthusiasm while motivating and challenging her students in the classroom through the use case studies, video creation, debate, role-plays, student-led experiential learning opportunities, and participation in academic competitions. She is an inspiration to the students. As a result, her students have achieved outstanding success both in and out of the classroom. She has taught some of the toughest classes but still managed to provide her students with an understanding of personal finance that will enable them to make responsible decisions as they enter the real world. Mrs. Thornton states, “My mission is to educate, empower, and affirm youth in their life goals. Teaching has allowed me to work toward this mission. I would like to set the example that personal and professional goals can be achieved through planning and diligence. I strive to use my influence get students excited about learning and participating in the world around them. I evaluate myself daily, weekly, monthly and at the end of each nine-week grading period to determine how I can improve and modify my instructional techniques. Educators should have an ‘always learning attitude’ for their students to be successful.”
|
Carlos Kyle Gillespie from Sparkman High School 2023 The Whit King, Jr. Excellence in the Teaching of Economics Award Winner Mr. Gillespie stimulates an integrated learning atmosphere by incorporating a variety of resources, interactives, simulations, podcasts, and competitions to set the tone for economics being a relatable class where students see the continuing relevance of economics and “real-world” connections. In addition to his classes at Sparkman High School, Mr. Gillespie has served as an Econiful Ambassador, taught several online AP Macro reviews sessions for students across the state through A+ College Ready, was a table leader in the A+ College Ready AP Macro Mock Reading, and has worked with other teachers on how to accurately the score AP exams. His colleagues describe him as an accomplished, compassionate, and admirable individual. He is extraordinarily talented at connecting with his students and educating them in creative ways. Mr. Gillespie states, “I consider myself very lucky to teach AP macro and on-level economics. The concepts and economic way of thinking are incredibly relatable and useful to students in both their current and future lives.”
|
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 |