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TALLADEGA COUNTY TEACHER EARNS HIGH MARKS FROM ALFA
MONTGOMERY Vicky Ozment, a Talladega County language arts teacher, has been named Alfa's Teacher of the Month for October.
Mrs. Ozment has taught seventh and eighth grade reading, writing and research at Childersburg Middle School since 1998. As this month's winner, she will receive $1,000 from Alfa, as will her school. Alfa Insurance Company and the Alabama Farmers Federation began sponsoring the awards program last year in an effort to recognize excellence in education.
A 1986 graduate of Auburn University, Mrs. Ozment earned masters degrees from both Auburn and the University of Montevallo while working as a communications consultant for Alabama Power Company. Her teaching experience also includes six years at Thompson High School in Alabaster and work as an adjunct instructor and supervisor at the University of Montevallo. As the sponsor of her school's daily broadcast news program called "Wake Up CMS," Mrs. Ozment is a believer in hands-on learning opportunities.
"It is only when students find purpose and value in learning that they become proud of their own educations," she said.
Mrs. Ozment, who characterizes teachers as "peddlers" of information, said the education system must develop new ways of getting students to "buy" its product.
"With media and the Internet selling information in nice, neat, use-now packages, teachers must be able to sell academics as the cornerstone of a solid education and the basis of a fulfilled life," she said.
During 1999, the Alfa Teacher of the Month program will honor one outstanding public school teacher from each of the state's eight public school board districts; two private school teachers; and two principals. Each winner is chosen based on an independent committee's evaluation of the applications received.
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