Every year, Jacksonville City Schools select two educators as Teachers of the Year – one from the elementary school, one from the high school. Teachers are nominated by their peers and the winner is chosen by a selection committee. This year’s top teachers are Kitty Stone Elementary’s Brigett Vernon and Jacksonville High School’s Juanita Badgett.

Badgett teaches Algebraic Connections and Pre Algebra for eighth grade students at JHS. She received her undergraduate degree in Math, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Math from Huntingdon College in Montgomery in 1987. In 1994, she graduated from JSU with a Master of Education degree with a concentration in mathematics. This is her 23rd year to teach.

“Mrs. Badgett is the type of teacher that will go over and beyond what is required for teachers to try to reach her students,” said Mike Newell, principal at JHS. “There have been times she has tried to sing like Aretha Franklin to get their attention and teach them a new concept. She will bring in projects to get the students attention. She wants to motivated them to get them willing to learn. She is that kind of teacher. We are very fortunate to have her. She does such an outstanding job.”

Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey also praised her efforts.

“Mrs. Badgett is a fantastic teacher and we are lucky to have her,” he said. “She is just great teaching those eighth graders. She relates to them well and she knows her subject matter. She is very agreeable and easy to get along with. Parents love her. You just can’t beat her.”

Badgett said that she was overwhelmed when she found out she was chosen as teacher of the year.

“It’s an honor,” said Badgett. “I don’t feel worthy.”

For Badgett, math is a passion and she hopes her love of the subject will rub off on her students.

“I love math,” said Badgett. “I think it is important for young people to understand how to use it. Too many times people are afraid of math and I want to help them understand it and show them how to apply it in their daily lives.”

Vernon has been teaching second grade at KSES for five years. In 2001, she got her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from JSU. In 2008, she earned her Master of Science in Elementary Education from JSU.

“We got Brigett Vernon when she was a very young teacher, right out of school. She has brought lots of innovation to Kitty Stone,” said Mackey. “She has done a lot of things to bring technology into our classrooms. She was the first one to use an interactive white board. And because she has such a good personality, the other teachers are not afraid to come to her and learn to use that new technology. They just love her.”

“She is a dedicated teacher,” said Sharon Gaines, principal at KSES. “She has a true focus on meeting the needs of her students. She is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure she is prepared everyday. She loves it…that says it all. She loves the kids and her profession.”

Vernon says it was an honor to be nominated.

“I am humbled that my peers would nominated me,” said Vernon. “It is a joy to teach at Kitty Stone.”

Vernon believes that bringing technology into the classroom prepares students for the technology driven world. Even without funding, Vernon finds ways to bring tech to the students.

“One of my passions is writing grants to bring technology in the classroom. So far, I have collected around $4,000 in grant money. It has really changed the course of my teaching. Now, everyday each one of my students will get to spend time working on a computer.”