WINSTON COUNTY'S BAKER CHOSEN ALFA TEACHER OF MONTH
 | | Winston County High's Dana G. Baker |
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Two basic philosophies have guided Dana G. Baker throughout her teaching career. The first -- "All students can learn -- just not in the same way on the same day" -- she read on a mural on her first day of student teaching. The second -- "Do what you can -- where you are -- with what you have" -- she heard in church.No wonder Baker, who holds a master's degree in education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a bachelor's of science in education from the University of North Alabama, has been selected Alfa's Teacher of the Month for February. As this month's winner, she will receive $1,000 from Alfa Insurance, and her school, Winston County High School, will receive a matching award from the Alabama Farmers Federation. "My room is not the quietest or most orderly one on the hallway, but I am an advocate that learning does not have to occur in straight rows of student desks with the teacher lecturing at the front of the room," said Baker, who teaches biology, chemistry and physics to freshmen through seniors at her former high school in Double Springs. She admits that the No Child Left Behind Act yanked her from her "comfort zone" when she found herself facing a biology class filled with timid students with learning disabilities. "I faced a crossroad," said Baker. "I could become bitter and resentful, taking my frustrations out on innocent people who needed my help, or I could roll up my sleeves, jump into the arena and accept a new challenge. I am so happy that I chose the latter because rather than changing my students, as I had in the past, these inclusion students changed me." She tells of one deaf student who was eager to do the research on genetic disorders, but was reluctant to make a presentation on the subject because she has "butterflies in her stomach." Once she realized that it was normal to feel that way, she made her presentation and earned the applause of her classmates. "While she was rewarded with increased self-esteem and a good grade, I was rewarded with far more," said Baker. "This class had revitalized my joy of teaching." During 2008, Alfa Insurance and the Alabama Farmers Federation will honor 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 under Alfa Teacher of the Month in the Ag Links section of www.AlfaFarmers.org.
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