On Monday, the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) announced the finalists for the Teacher of the Year title.

Our very own Selma educator, Environmental Science Teacher Mashika Tempero-Culliver, is representing District V as a secondary educator finalist.

Tempero-Culliver has worked hard in her nearly three years as an educator.

To be such a young educator, being selected as a finalist for Teacher of the Year for the state is a big accomplishment.

Her story how overcoming the odds and being able to obtain not only her bachelor’s degree but to be a PhD candidate is impressive and shows how much hard work and perseverance pays off.

Having grown up in poverty, Tempero-Culliver was awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship to pursue her education at Auburn University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences.

Tempero-Culliver went on to earn a Master of Education degree in secondary biology from Auburn University in Montgomery, an education specialist degree in instructional technology from the same institution and is now a prospective PhD student.

Her way of teaching by showing real life close in proximity examples helps keeps the students involved and shows them how environmental science impacts local and regional problems.

Congratulations to Mrs. Tempero-Culliver. We in Selma are rooting for you as you head into the finals for Teacher of the Year.
Your hard work has paid off.