Vestavia Hills City Schools Names District Teachers Of The Year

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL - Vestavia Hills City Schools named its 2018-19 Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year. Heather Parrish, a special education teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park, was named Elementary Teacher of the Year. Mary Busbee, a science teacher at Vestavia Hills High School, received Secondary Teacher of the Year honors.

Parrish has taught at Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park since 2015, providing special education services for students in third, fourth, and fifth grades. She previously taught special education in the Mountain Brook and Chambers County (Ala.) school systems. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in collaborative special education from Auburn University.

Busbee has taught science courses at Vestavia Hills High School since 2016. She previously chaired the science department at St. Clair County High School and served on the executive committees of the Alabama Science Teacher Association and the Birmingham Audubon Society. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Judson College and a master’s degree in science education from UAB.

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Parrish and Busbee were selected from a field of eight school-level Teachers of the Year, which included:

• Kayla Underhill, Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights
• Kate Donaldson, Vestavia Hills Elementary Central
• Shannon Kirby, Vestavia Hills Elementary East
• Maggie Widman, Vestavia Hills Elementary West
• Lisa Williams, Liberty Park Middle School
• Leah Seng, Louis Pizitz Middle School

As district teachers of the year, Parrish and Busbee will be considered for the Alabama Teacher of the Year designation from the Alabama Department of Education. The state Teacher of the Year will be named in the spring.

“The Teacher of the Year program recognizes outstanding educators for their commitment to the profession," said Vestavia Hills City Schools Superintendent Todd Freeman. "It is an honor given to those that distinguish themselves as high performing teachers. Mary Busbee and Heather Parrish are consummate professionals and dedicated ambassadors for the mission of Vestavia Hills City Schools. On behalf of the Board of Education, I congratulate them and wish all the best as they represent our system at the state level.”

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