Elementary school teacher Reggie LeDon White has been named as the 2023 Alabama State Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: ABC News

It is always my pleasure to share stories about exemplary educators who have earned accolades for their workin the classroom. One of these is Reggie LeDon White, an elementary school teacher from Alabama who has been named his state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Reggie teaches fifth-grade at Booker T. Washington K-8 School in Birmingham. The honored educator believes that relationships are the key to successful teaching. “By building solid relationships and comprehensively investing in education, we have a better chance of ensuring that every student can achieve their full potential and contribute to the success of our society,” Reggie asserts.

Reggie was raised in a small town in south Alabama. After his graduation from Southern Choctaw High School, he had an opportunity to spend a summer break  in San Jose, California. As the summer progressed, Reggie developed a passion for teaching. The final incentive to enter the profession came when he watched a television commercial that featured a child saying, “We need you.”

Reggie earned his Bachelor’s degree in elementary Education from Alabama State. He earned his Master’s degree in Education Administration. He also has an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership, and he is a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certified Teacher. His career as an educator spans 26 years.

Since its inauguration in 1952, the Teacher of the Year program has celebrated educators from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), and four US territories. Each year, these exemplary teachers have been recognized at a ceremony at the White House, with the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the year that follows their selection, these teachers are invited to learn at Google, develop a TEDEd talk, and attend Space Camp, among other honors.