Lori Nicole Holland

Morning at Albertville Middle School begins with a gathering that centers belonging and purpose. “My morning meeting is my signature practice,” says Special Education teacher Lori Nicole Holland, now in her 16th year of teaching and her fourth at Albertville. “It sets the tone for the whole day.”

Students sing, move, and work through language, reading, math, and science in real world applications. On one unforgettable morning, a student who once arrived nonverbal stood up and led the meeting from start to finish, mirroring Ms. Holland’s tone, gestures, and warmth. The room has believed differently ever since.

Ms. Holland did not start in education. After serving as a corrections officer, she studied the school to prison pipeline and chose prevention. “I want to be on the side of prevention through proactive measures.” Her conviction is anchored in relationships and growth. “Every kid can learn something, and every kid deserves the time it takes to learn it.” Some students master a new math skill fast. Others need months to answer a single prompt. “I’m having a party for both.” She is clear about the work. “Special education is not daycare, nor is it a source of embarrassment.” What happens in her classroom is rigorous and real. “We are having real school in my classroom. We are learning.”

Colleagues see it too: “Lori goes above and beyond working with her students. She does hands-on activities to enhance their learning strategies and she by far gives 120% into each day of working with her students. A lot of teachers in her area just ‘babysit’ Lori does not do that. She has a structured schedule and takes time to make sure that her students are excelling in all they do.” One favorite example lives in school memory: “An example of this was when she set up a trick or treat adventure for her students around the school.”

With APT’s $1,000 impact grant, Ms. Holland will finish outfitting a kitchen, purchase food, print visual supports, and add sensory tools that keep students engaged. The centerpiece is new and bold. “My key activity is to develop a class business.” She is ready to turn standards into authentic work. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to turn our academic standards into real world applications that are engaging and build my students’ daily living and job skills.” Preparation will include partnerships. “Two of our high school special education teachers, LaWanda Mitchell and Makenzi Golden, run the Exceptional Aggie Cafe in Albertville,” she notes, and their insights will help her backward map the skills middle schoolers need for future roles.

The plan is measurable and visible. “Success will be measured by data collected on target behaviors, observations, and developmental inventories.” The learning will be documented in ways that matter to students and families. “Students get a lot of satisfaction and pride by being able to show people pictures or examples of their work.”

APT’s Teacher of the Month pairs recognition with a $1,000 classroom grant, a brief pre and post survey with artifacts, and opportunities to share on our podcast and blog. Today we celebrate Ms. Holland’s simple north star. “Just do what’s right for the kids.”