Springville Elementary School teacher Lara McClendon, left, presents Mary Morrow with a NBPTS pin. McClendon was Morrow’s mentor.
SCCHS teacher Mary Morrow was honored last week for becoming National Board Certified. A reception was held in her honor at the school library. Pictured, from left, are Brittany Owen, Mary Busbee, SCCHS principal Brian Terry, Mary Morrow, Brenda Simmons and Annette Blythe.
Morrow is in her 13th year teaching and said she is extremely honored to achieve this.
“It took a year,” she said. “I could not have done this without the help of my fellow faculty members and my students. They played a huge role in this.”
Morrow teaches art, photography and yearbook. Next year, they are starting sculpture, something she is very excited about.
“She is one of the best teachers I’ve ever been around,” said SCHS Principal Brian Terry. “She is the best art teacher I’ve ever been around. She is tremendous and does so much with our art, photography and yearbook programs. She is just top-notch in all areas. There is just not enough good you can say about her.”
Fellow teacher Brenda Simmons said Morrow was one of her best students.
“I enjoyed teaching her and I enjoy her as a colleague,” Simmons said. “She is just fantastic.”
Morrow graduated from SCCHS in 1991 and was the class valedictorian. She earned her BA in Art/Studio and Art History from the University of Alabama at Birmingham her MA in Art Education, also from UAB.
When asked how it felt to come back and teach at her alma mater, Morrow said it was just amazing.
“To be in the same community and know some of the teachers is simply amazing,” Morrow said.
Alabama ranks 11th nationwide in the number of teachers achieving board certification this year and ranks 13th in the total number over time (1,781).
Morrow noted this is the first year the St. Clair County School System sponsored a mentor program in helping to become national board certified.
“Candidates were placed with mentors who were already national board certified,” Morrow said. “Lara McClendon, a teacher at Springville Elementary School, was my mentor. She was so very helpful because she is an art teacher as well. We met several times and she gave me feedback on my writing and the videos we had to send in. She was so very helpful.”
McClendon said Morrow prepared four portfolio entries that are based on her teaching, her students and the impact her lessons and activities have on their learning. She also took a six-part assessment based on her knowledge of her content of Art.
“She is an amazing teacher,” McClendon said. “She has wonderful ideas and energy that her students share. As I read her entries, I was constantly impressed with the work her students produce, as well as the ideas and messages they are able to demonstrate.”
