The Alabama State Department of Education named sixteen 2023-24 finalists for state Teacher of the Year Wednesday.

Finalists were chosen from more than 150 teachers across the state, according to a news release.

The winner will be named in May.

The current Teacher of the Year, Reggie White, is a National Board certified teacher who taught at Birmingham City’s Booker T. Washington K-8 school when named the 2022-23 winner.

“I celebrate the 16 finalists for accepting the call to teach and for modeling exceptional performance in the classroom,” White said. “You are all Teachers of the Year.”

The pool of candidates will be narrowed to the top four by a state-level committee. Finalists at the elementary and secondary school level are named in each state board of education district.

Finalists are:

District I:

• Meagan Gayle, Mobile County schools – Hutchens Elementary School, Elementary Teacher of the Year
• Amanda Talantis, Gulf Shores City schools – Gulf Shores High School, Secondary Teacher of the Year

District II:

• Logan Faith Rasmusson, Phenix City schools – Sherwood Elementary School, Elementary Teacher of the Year,
• Ansley A. Godwin, Ozark City schools – Carroll High School, Elementary Teacher of the Year

District III:

• Jeffrey L. Norris, Shelby County schools – Oak Mountain Middle School, Elementary Teacher of the Year
• Kevin Pughsley, Hoover City schools – Berry Middle School, Secondary Teacher of the Year

District IV:

• Dr. Allatesha Cain, Bessemer City schools – Charles F. Hard Elementary School, Elementary Teacher of the Year
• Mychoal B. Woods, Birmingham City schools – George Washington Carver High School, Secondary Teacher of the Year

District V:

• George Clausell II, Macon County schools – George Washington Carver Elementary School, Elementary Teacher of the Year,
• Jessica Roberson, Selma City schools – Selma High School, Secondary Teacher of the Year

District VI:

• Lauren Murdoch Brascho, Pell City schools – Coosa Valley Elementary School, Elementary Teacher of the Year
• Katie McGee, Cullman City schools – Cullman middle School, Secondary Teacher of the Year

District VII:

• Kimberly Jared, Hartselle City schools – Barkley Bridge Elementary School, Elementary Teacher of the Year
• Jennifer Coleman, Trussville City schools – Hewitt-Trussville High School, Secondary Teacher of the Year

District VIII:

• Bonnie Howard, Madison City schools – Madison Elementary School, Elementary Teacher of the Year
• Nia Nicole Stivers, Jackson County schools – North Jackson High School, Secondary Teacher of the Year

Alabama’s Teacher of the Year serves as a full-time ambassador for education and the teaching profession, and conducts workshops. Alabama’s Teacher of the Year becomes a candidate for National Teacher of the Year.