Phil Rodney Wilson Named Alabama Teacher of the Year

May 13, 2010

And the winner is…Phil Rodney Wilson, who teaches music to 1^st-5^th graders at Ogletree Elementary School in the Auburn City School System.

Near the end of the live broadcast event, The 2010 Alabama Stars in Education Awards, State Superintendent of Education Joseph B. Morton announced the coveted title of Alabama Teacher of the Year. With the title, Wilson assumes the role of official spokesperson and representative for teachers in Alabama for the next year. The awards ceremony, which honors all of the district finalists for Teacher of the Year, is held annually in celebration of these teachers’ dedication to education in Alabama public schools.

Morton congratulated all of the contestants with plaques to commemorate the honor of being shining examples of professionalism and dedication to Alabama’s most valued asset – its children. Of Wilson, Morton said, “His ability to integrate music with the rest of the curriculum inspires his students, their parents and his colleagues.”

“Phil Wilson is the teacher everyone wishes they had: parents, students, principals and other teachers.” said Cristen Herring, Director of Elementary Curriculum and Professional Development for Auburn City Schools. “Mr. Wilson teaches far more than music. Whatever the lesson – Pi, insects, U.S. Presidents, state names – Mr. Wilson has a song that will connect to the curriculum.”

Herring continued, “Instruction and integration of the Fine Arts is jeopardized in these difficult times, but as a dedicated warrior, Phil Wilson, proves that discipline-based arts education is vital to the success of our students and our schools.”

Wilson graduated from Troy University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and earned a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Auburn University. He believes that no accomplishment is greater than knowing that after his students leave his Ogletree Elementary School classroom, they are working to make this world a better place.

The selection process for Alabama’s Teacher of the Year begins at the school system level. Each school system can nominate an elementary and secondary teacher at the district level. One elementary teacher and one secondary teacher are selected from each of the eight state Board of Education districts. A state selection committee selects four teachers from the 16 district finalists to be interviewed for the titles Alabama Teacher of the Year and Alternate Teacher of the Year.

Wilson will spend much of the 2010-2011 school year serving as ambassadors for public education and the teaching profession. Wilson automatically becomes Alabama’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year.

For more information about Alabama’s Teacher of the Year program, visit www.alsde.edu or contact Ann Starks, 334-242-9702 or astarks@alsde.edu.