Pamela Sims Pugh Named Alabama Teacher Of The Year Finalist

MONTGOMERY, AL - Mountain Brook has consistently ranked among the best school systems in the state - if not the entire country. So it should come as no surprise that one of the system's teachers has been selected as a finalist for the Alabama Teacher of the Year.

Pamela Sims Pugh, a teacher at Mountain Brook Junior High School, was named as one of 16 finalists for the prestigious award, given annually by the Alabama Department of Education.

A release by the ALSDE said the finalists were chosen among the 140 teaching professionals in the state who submitted an application to be the Alabama 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year. This award is given to teachers who are dedicated to the education and achievement of their students.

The finalists are as follows:

District I

• J. Scott Parks Elementary Teacher of the Year—Saraland Elementary School, Saraland City School System
• Kathy Hughes Secondary Teacher of the Year—Spanish Fort High School, Baldwin County School System

District II

• Laura G. Traylor Elementary Teacher of the Year—Joseph W. Lisenby Primary School, Ozark City Schools
• Jacque Middleton Secondary Teacher of the Year—Auburn High School, Auburn City Schools

District III

• Vickey Glover Bailey Elementary Teacher of the Year—Chelsea Park Elementary School, Shelby County School System
• Kimberly Lee Mitchell Secondary Teacher of the Year—Talladega Career Technical Center, Talladega City School System

District IV

• Abby Becker Elementary Teacher of the Year—Hall-Kent Elementary School, Homewood City School System
• Stephanie Huffman Secondary Teacher of the Year—McAdory High School, Jefferson County School System

District V

• Catherine Anne Kenny Elementary Teacher of the Year—Pike Road Middle School, Pike Road City School System
• Mashika Tempero-Culliver Secondary Teacher of the Year—Selma High School, Selma City School System

District VI

• Leslie Hughes Elementary Teacher of the Year—Walter M. Kennedy School, Pell City School System
• Valerie Curtis Secondary Teacher of the Year—Pell City High School, Pell City School System

District VII

• Ana Carolina Behel Elementary Teacher of the Year—Weeden Elementary School, Florence City School System
• Pamela Sims Pugh Secondary Teacher of the Year—Mountain Brook Junior High School, Mountain Brook City School System

District VIII

• Jennifer Perkinson Elementary Teacher of the Year—Goldsmith Schiffman Elementary School, Huntsville City School System
• Leah McRae Secondary Teacher of the Year—James Clemens High School, Madison City School System

Judges are now working to decrease this number to the top four educators in Alabama. The winner will be announced at a ceremony held at the RSA Plaza Terrace in Montgomery on May 8 at 6 p.m.