Alabama’s 2005-2006 Teacher of the Year, Margaret Petty of Rainbow Elementary School in Madison County, received a year’s use of a new car recently courtesy of Alfa Insurance and the Alabama Farmers Federation. Alfa President Jerry A. Newby presented Petty the keys to a 2005 Chevrolet Impala as part of her award for being named the state’s top teacher. A National Board Certified Teacher, Ms. Petty teaches special education. She said she can’t ever recall wanting to be anything other than a teacher, adding “it is one profession that is truly motivated by a passionate desire to share oneself with others.”
Newby praised the work of Petty and all Alabama teachers.”Alabama is blessed to have some of the best teachers in the world,” he said. “And, as Alabama’s new Teacher of the Year, Ms. Petty now serves as a mentor to other teachers in our state. We are pleased to present her this car to use for the next year as she travels throughout Alabama sharing her ideas and teaching philosophy. Alfa and the Alabama Farmers Federation recognize the wonderful job that she and all our teachers do.”State Superintendent of Education Dr. Joseph B. Morton said presenting the Teacher of the Year with a car shows that Alfa values teachers and the job they do.”I would like to thank Alfa for its generous contributions and continuing commitment to quality education,” Morton said. “Further, the use of an automobile is an asset to the Alabama Teacher of the Year Program and teachers of the year and enables the teacher to represent our state in a most professional manner.”This is the ninth year that Alfa has presented a car to the Teacher of the Year. During the presentation, Newby announced the continuation of the Alfa Teacher of the Month program, a separate program that provides $1,000 each month to an outstanding teacher and a matching award to his or her school.