Susan Spezzini, Program Director and Associate Professor (spezzini@uab.edu)
Hannah Rodgers, UAB alumna and ESL Teacher at Pelham Middle School in Pelham, Alabama, participated in the National Education Association Foundation's Global Learning Fellowship program in 2018. The fellowship included a full year of professional development focused on global education, a workshop in Washington, DC, and a 9-day international field study in South Africa. Hannah is pictured here visiting Table Mountain in Capetown, South Africa.
Sarah Hicks, UAB alumna and ESL Teacher at Thompson Middle School in Alabaster, Alabama, was one of 35 educators from the United States and Canada to be selected for the 10th annual class of National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellows in 2016. The Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Program gives K-12 classroom teachers the opportunity to foster excellence in geographic education. Exemplary educators like Sarah Hicks are recognized for their commitment to geographic education and given the opportunity to travel aboard the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet, giving educators the chance to enhance their geographic knowledge with hands-on field experience and bring that knowledge back to their classrooms and local communities.UAB Awards
UAB SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AWARDS - OUTSTANDING STUDENTS AND ALUMNI
| 2019 | Honors | Yuehui Hwang | China (INTO Pathways) |
| Educational Specialist | Emily Blackstock | Homewood City Schools | |
| Traditional MAEd/ESL | Kaitlyn Allen | Birmingham City Schools | |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Diana Hilton | Gadsden City Schools | |
| MA-TESOL | Courtney Jeffries | UAB (Passport office) | |
| TESOL Alumna | Hannah Rodgers | Pelham City Schools | |
| Service | Lorrie Bowman | Attala City Schools | |
| 2018 | Honors | Candace Cooper | Jasper City Schools |
| Educational Specialist | Melinda Harrison | UAB English Dept. | |
| Traditional MAEd/ESL | B. DeAnna Logan | Jefferson County Schools | |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Donna Hall | Tarrant City Schools | |
| MA-TESOL | Brian Rice | Peace Corps, Ecuador | |
| MAEd/ESL Alumna | Julie Paul | UAB Project IMPACT-PD | |
| Service | Rebecca Oxford | UAB (also UA and U/Maryland-CP) | |
| 2017 | Honors | Gonul Uguralp | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Educational Specialist | Melissa Hawkins | INTO UAB English Language Programs | |
| Traditional MAEd/ESL | Lauren Craddock | Tuscaloosa | |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Tanya Hiers | Jefferson County Schools | |
| MA-TESOL | Josephine Cox | INTO UAB English Language Programs | |
| MAEd/ESL Alumna | Marcia Farabee | Etowah County Schools | |
| Service | Lari Valtierra | Jefferson County Schools | |
| 2016 | Honors | Monica Cantwell | INTO UAB English Language Programs |
| Educational Specialist | Holly Blain | Eufala City Schools | |
| Traditional MAEd/ESL | Gwendolyn Ramos | Enterprise City Schools | |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Elizabeth House | Decatur City Schools | |
| MA-TESOL | Stephen Rowlett | The Literacy Council of Central Alabama | |
| MAEd/ESL Alumna | Ann Marie Batista | Huntsville City Schools | |
| Service | Dely Roberts | ALSDE Federal Programs Title III - ELL | |
| 2015 | Honors | Sarah Frisbie | ELLI - Samford University |
| Traditional MAEd/ESL | Vann Edge | Etowah County Schools | |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Devin Melton | Bessemer City Schools | |
| MA-TESOL | Megan Gilliland | English Language Institute - UAB | |
| MAEd/ESL Alumna | Maggie Jensen | Vestavia City Schools | |
| Service | Julia Austin | UAB (retired) | |
| 2014 | Honors | Monte Erwin | ELLI - Samford University |
| Educational Specialist | Holly Hubbard | Etowah County Schools | |
| Traditional MAEd/ESL | Daphne Kennedy | Jasper City Schools | |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Susie DuBois | Birmingham City Schools | |
| MA-TESOL | Neva Garner | UAB research | |
| MAEd/ESL Alumna | Sandi Prater | ELLI - Samford University | |
| Service | Kathy Nichol | Baldwin County Schools | |
| 2013 | Honors | Nancy Blanco | Lee County Schools |
| Traditional MAEd/ESL | Chad Strawn | Etowah County Schools | |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Virginia Crittenden | Birmingham City Schools | |
| MA-TESOL | Oscar Garcia | Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico | |
| MAEd/ESL Alumna | Kelly Hill | Shelby County Schools | |
| Service | Cindy Hunt | Decatur City Schools | |
| 2012 | Honors | Christa Hill | Etowah County Schools |
| Traditional MAEd/ESL | Tammy Davis | Enterprise City Schools | |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Frankie Perez | Shelby County Schools | |
| MA-TESOL | Linda DeRocher | The Literacy Council, Birmingham | |
| MAEd/ESL Alumna | Mary Earley | Shelby County Schools | |
| 2011 | Traditional MAEd/ESL | Candace Hatcher | Huntsville City Schools |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Rhonda Gregg | Shelby County Schools | |
| MA-TESOL | Sherine Wahba | UAB ELCI | |
| MAEd/ESL Alumna | Jenny Duckworth | Mercer University, Atlanta | |
| 2010 | Traditional MAEd/ESL | Karen Hill | Shelby County Schools |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Tyler Bryant | Birmingham City Schools | |
| MA-TESOL | Lucy Dingledy | Jefferson State Community College | |
| MAEd/ESL Alumna | Jennifer Williams | Dekalb County Schools | |
| 2009 | Traditional MAEd/ESL | Monica Coe | Walker County Schools |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Marie Sandoval | Shelby County Schools | |
| MA-TESOL | Margariette Hoomes | UAB Graduate School | |
| MAEd/ESL Alumna | Karen Snyder | Auburn City Schools | |
| 2008 | Traditional MAEd/ESL | Esther P. Cunill | Jefferson County Schools |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Abby Becker | Homewood City Schools | |
| MA-TESOL | Bryan Lowry | UAB ELCI | |
| MAE/ESL Alumna | Cindy Cox | Shelby County Schools | |
| 2007 | Traditional MAEd/ESL | Sevim Whitaker | Hoover City Schools |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Cheryl Jones | Shelby County Schools | |
| MAEd/ESL Alumna | Judy Wright | Calhoun County Schools | |
| 2006 | Traditional MAEd/ESL | Jan Renfro | Shelby County Schools |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Naomi Abe | Shelby County Schools | |
| MAEd/ESL Alumna | Anne Betbeze | Birmingham City Schools | |
| 2005 | Traditional MAEd/ESL | Shay Stewart | Baldwin County Schools |
| Alternative MAEd/ESL | Jennifer Greer | Shelby County Schools | |
| MAEd/ESL Alumna | Alice Owens | Alexander City Schools | |
National Board Cert
NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION
| 2011 | April Atkins | 3rd Grade | Helena Intermediate (Shelby County) |
| Abby Becker | ESL | Hall-Kent Elementary (Homewood City) | |
| Amber Howard | 4th Grade | Helena Intermediate (Shelby County) | |
| Wendy McBride | ESL | Gwin Elementary (Hoover City) | |
| Georgia Miller | ESL | Homewood Middle (Homewood City) | |
| Michelle Saindon | Special Education | Helena Intermediate (Shelby County) | |
| 2010 | Katie Collins | ESL | Gwin Elementary (Hoover City) |
| Amanda Rodriguez | ESL | Valley Elementary (Shelby County) | |
| Maria Tarry | ESL | Valley Intermediate (Shelby County) | |
| 2009 | Kelly Hill | Kindergarten | Inverness Elementary (Shelby County) |
| Lacey Hughes | 1st Grade | Inverness Elementary (Shelby County) | |
| Alice Owens | ESL | Stephens Elementary (Alexander City) | |
| Sevim Whitaker | ESL | Rocky Ridge Elementary (Hoover City) | |
| 2008 | Robin Kelly | ESL | Gibson Elementary (Birmingham City) |
| Donna Morrison | ESL | Glen Iris Elementary (Birmingham City) | |
| 2006 | Anne Betbeze | ESL | EPIC Elementary (Birmingham City) |
Teacher of Year
TEACHER OF THE YEAR
| 2016-17 | Donna Dahl | ESL | Vestavia Hills Elementary West (Vestavia Hills City) |
| 2011-12 | April Atkins | 3rd Grade | Helena Intermediate (Shelby County) |
| Cindy Hunt | Science | Austin High (Decatur City) | |
| Tammi Ward Carr | 3rd Grade | Oak Mountain Intermediate (Shelby County) | |
| 2010-11 | Carla Dudley | 4th Grade | Oak Mountain Intermediate (Shelby County) |
| Christa Hill | 6th Grade | Duck Springs Elementary (Etowah County) | |
| Amber Howard | 4th Grade | Helena Intermediate (Shelby County) | |
| Jess Smith | Spanish | Etowah High (Attala City) | |
| 2009-10 | Brookie Harbison | Special Education | Shelby County High (Shelby County) |
| Nona Thomas* | ESL | Edgewood Elementary (Homewood City) | |
| *Nona was also selected Teacher of the year for all Homewood Schools | |||
| Myra Watson | 4th Grade | Oak Mountain Intermediate (Shelby County) | |
| 2008-09 | Abby Becker | ESL | Hall-Kent Elementary (Homewood City) |
| Julie Caine | Social Studies | Montevallo Middle (Shelby County) | |
| Sally Dumais | ESL | Valley Intermediate (Shelby County) | |
| Stefanie Jenkins | Math & Science | Shades Cahaba Elementary (Homewood City) | |
| Latasha McMillan | English | Thompson Middle (Shelby County) | |
| 2007-08 | Laura Calhoun | Special Education | Linda Nolen Learning Center (Shelby County) |
| Laura Gober | ESL | Inverness Elementary (Shelby County) | |
| Alissa Murphy | ESL | Foley High (Baldwin County) | |
| Kerri Woods | 4th Grade | Elvin Hill Elementary (Shelby County) | |
| 2006-07 | Lisa Kirkpatrick (Preston) | French & Spanish | Chelsea High (Shelby County) |
| Laura McDonald | Special Education | Columbiana Middle (Shelby County) | |
| Judy Metheny* | 3rd Grade | Mt Laurel Elementary (Shelby County) | |
| *Judy was also selected Elementary Teacher of the Year for all Shelby County Schools | |||
| Dee Pinkleton | Kindergarten | Wilsonville Elementary (Shelby County) | |
| Julie Yeager | Math | Chelsea Middle (Shelby County) | |
| 2004-05 | Lisa Shears | 1st Grade | Meadow View Elementary (Shelby County) |
ALSDE ELL Coach
ELL COACHES FOR ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
| 2017 | Debbie Baeder | Madison City Schools |
| Mayte Cotton | Montgomery Public Schools | |
| Susan Penton | Geneva County Schools | |
| Robin Stutts | Madison City Schools | |
| Krista Whatley | Bessemer City Schools | |
| 2016 | Debbie Baeder | Madison City Schools |
| Cheryl Michele Lee | Birmingham City Schools | |
| Susan Penton | Geneva County Schools | |
| Robin Stutts | Madison City Schools | |
| Krista Whatley | Bessemer City Schools | |
| 2015 | Cheryl Michele Lee | Birmingham City Schools |
| Debbie Baeder | Madison City Schools | |
| Robin Stutts | Madison City Schools | |
| Krista Whatley | Bessemer City Schools | |
| 2014 | Cheryl Michele Lee | Birmingham City Schools |
| Debbie Baeder | Madison City Schools | |
| Krista Whatley | Bessemer City Schools | |
| 2013 | Meko Venegas | Oxford City Schools |
| Krista Whatley | Bessemer City Schools | |
| Sevim Whitaker | Hoover City Schools | |
| 2012 | Meko Venegas | Oxford City Schools |
| Sevim Whitaker | Hoover City Schools | |
| 2011 | Kim Mattox | Oxford City Schools |
| Sevim Whitaker | Hoover City Schools | |
| 2010 | Linda Harris | Baldwin County Schools |
| Kim Mattox | Oxford City Schools | |
| Sevim Whitaker | Hoover City Schools | |
| 2009 | Cindy Hunt | Decatur City Schools |
Other
OTHER AWARDS AND HONORS
| US Department of State Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms travel grant | |||
| 2018 | Abby Becker | ESL Teacher | Hall-Kent Elementary (Homewood City) |
| National Education Association Global Learning Fellowship | |||
| 2018 | M. Hannah Rodgers | ESL Teacher | Pelham Park Middle School |
| National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow | |||
| 2016 | Sarah Hicks | ESL Teacher | Thompson Middle (Shelby County) |
| Motivating Woman's Award, Birmingham International Center | |||
| 2014 | Georgia Miller | ESL Teacher | Homewood Middle (Homewood City) |
| Nominee for Alabama Teacher Hall of Fame (awarded by Jacksonville State University) | |||
| 2014 | Danelle Cash | French Teacher | Hoover High (Hoover City) |
| 2008 | Sevim Whitaker | ESL Teacher | Rocky Ridge Elementary (Hoover City) |
| US Department of State English Language Fellow | |||
| 2010 | Carey Chappell | ESL Teacher | Shelton State Community College |
| Outstanding New Teacher of the Year | |||
| 2011 | Darcie Miller | ESL Teacher | Austin High (Decatur City) |
| 2010 | Darcie Bouvier | ESL Teacher | Austin High (Decatur City) |
| Support Staff of the Year | |||
| 2010 | Frankie Perez | ESL Bilingual Aide | Thompson High (Shelby County) |
| Rotary Club Teacher of the Year | |||
| 2009 | Anne Betbeze | ESL Teacher | EPIC Elementary (Birmingham City) |
| Tyler Bryant | ESL Teacher | Glen Iris Elementary (Birmingham City) | |
| 2002 | Jenny Harvey | ESL Teacher | Homewood High (Homewood City) |
| Center for Urban Education, Advanced Studies Scholarship | |||
| 2010 | Cindy Ponder | ESL Teacher | Kermit Johnson Elementary (Jefferson County) |
