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ALFA HONORS AUBURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER
 | | November Teacher of the Month Carol Ham |
AUBURN, Ala. -- Carol Ham's commitment to help her students become good citizens earned the Auburn elementary school teacher recognition this month as Alfa's Teacher of the Month for November. As this month's winner, Ms. Ham will receive $1,000 from Alfa Insurance Co., and her school, Ogletree Elementary School, will receive a matching award from the Alabama Farmers Federation.A certified elementary education and special education teacher, Ms. Ham earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Auburn University. During her teaching career, she has taught second grade students and served as an instructor at Auburn University before accepting a position this year as a reading coach with the Alabama Reading Initiative at Ogletree Elementary. Ms. Ham said her teaching philosophy is rooted in the idea that educators must guide children to be good citizens. "We must help children develop responsibility as individuals and as members of the classroom and school and, in turn, this will carry over to their community," she said. "Every child may not grow up to be a scientist, doctor or mathematician, but every child will become a citizen in the community. With this in mind, it is imperative that teachers provide an atmosphere conducive to promoting good citizenship." In Ms. Ham's classroom, students practice their citizenship skills early by serving on committees that are responsible for daily tasks. Her pupils also vote on class decisions and meet in small groups to solve problems. In addition, Ms. Ham encourages her students to achieve by preparing lessons that allow them to explore the world. Ms. Ham's knack for inspiring her students to do their best hasn't gone unnoticed. In 2003-2004, she received the Auburn City Schools' Teacher of the Year Award and Alabama's Elementary Teacher of the Year Award for State Board of Education District 2. She also regularly serves as a mentor for Auburn University students majoring in elementary education. Each year, the Alfa Teacher of the Month program honors one outstanding teacher from each of Alabama's eight state school board districts as well as two principals and two private school teachers. Application information is available by clicking on "Alfa Teacher of the Month" in the Ag Links section of www.alfafarmers.org.
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