Teacher of the Month
The Alabama Public Television Excellence in Education Award is a monthly recognition program for kindergarten through 12th Grade educators across the state of Alabama.
Stacey Tatum, a 6th-grade science and social studies teacher at Elberta Elementary School, may be new to teaching middle school, but she has spent more than 10 years making a lasting impact on her students. Most of her teaching career has been in 3rd grade, but this year she embraced an exciting opportunity to move up to 6th grade and teach new subjects.
With Alabama implementing a new science course of study, Ms. Tatum says she is learning alongside her students.
“It has been great to expand and explore the curriculum materials with the kids,” she shared.
Known as a hands-on, inquiry-based teacher, she is constantly seeking creative ways to keep lessons current and relevant to students’ everyday lives. She believes real-world issues deserve a stronger presence in the classroom.
Elberta Elementary is in the small, rural town of Elberta in Baldwin County—an area rooted in agriculture. Local farms produce sweet potatoes, peanuts, and corn. With the $1,000 Teacher of the Month award, Ms. Tatum hopes to partner with these farmers to create a community garden on campus and build long-term relationships with the community.
Students will research soil types, choose crops to grow, and learn how to care for them. Once the garden is thriving, students will also benefit from having fresh produce they can take home. The middle school currently has a “Blessing Barn” where community members can donate food and supplies for those in need. Ms. Tatum hopes their garden can supply fresh produce to support that effort.
During the 2023–2024 school year, Ms. Tatum was also voted Teacher of the Year at her school. Her husband, Jason, describes her as “the hardest working person I know. She spends all of her time reading about education, studying engaging strategies, and developing lessons that not only spark curiosity but keep students wanting to learn more.”
Through the community garden project, she hopes to do exactly that—inspire a desire to learn that grows beyond the classroom.
One of Ms. Tatum’s favorite quotes to share with students is: “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” With the support of the APT Teacher of the Month $1,000 award, she is taking that shot and continuing to make a difference in the lives of the children she teaches.
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