Trace Crossings honors its own Minnette Wiggins, Alabama Elementary Teacher of the Year
Trace Crossings Elementary held a surprise reception today, May 18, honoring first grade teacher Minnette R. Wiggins, who last week was named Alabama’s 2015-2016 Elementary Teacher of the Year. She will serve as the alternate for Alabama's Teacher of the Year for 2015-2016.
Elementary school students, teachers, Hoover Board of Education members and members of Wiggins family gathered in the gym this morning and paid tribute to Wiggins, who earlier this year was also named Trace Crossings teacher of the year and District 3 elementary teacher of the year.
One of the most emotional parts of the ceremony occurred when students in Wiggins’ first grade class walked across the stage to the teacher, gave her a rose and hug, and talked of how much they enjoyed having her as their teacher.
Carol Barber, principal of Trace Crossings, read a certificate honoring Wiggins award, and said they are going to get it made into a plaque that will be put on the wall on the school.
“Ms. Wiggins is not only Trace Crossings teacher of the year, but the very best elementary teacher in the state of Alabama,” Barber, the school’s principal said. “We are very proud of her.”
One of four finalists selected out of 16 semifinalists, Wiggins placed second behind Vestavia Hills High School teacher Jennifer Brown, who was selected as Alabama 2015-2016 State Teacher of the Year. But she was tops among elementary educators.
Both awards were announced Wednesday, May 13, during a two-hour ceremony hosted by the Alabama State Board of Education and the Alabama State Department of Education at the RSA Plaza Terrace in Montgomery.
Finalists emerged from more than 130 educators across the state who submitted applications for the Alabama Teacher of the Year Program.
Wiggins, who has been teaching for 33 years, said she is honored to be able to mold and shape the minds of future leaders.
“My successes are when a child is excited about something he has learned, when she has an ‘ah-ha’ moment, when he achieves a goal, and when academics makes a difference to the individual life of a child," Wiggins said. "My students inspire me daily to be the best teacher I can be, and they deserve nothing less. I am so very proud to be a small part of the teaching world.”
Here is a link to previous coverage of Wiggins in the Hoover Sun: