Good Hope Teacher Awarded District's Top Honors
Celeste Weaver leads her third grade class in singing "God Bless America", a song she taught the children following the terrorist attack on New York City's World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11. Weaver said she has tried to integrate the event into her curriculum this week, making the historic tragedy "relevant to their third-grade lives."	Celeste Weaver, a third grade teacher at Good Hope School in Cullman County, was named top elementary teacher in District Six at a ceremony in Montgomery on Sept. 13, 2001.      Mrs. Weaver was among fifteen finalists nominated for the Alabama Board of Education's Teacher of the Year Award, with one high school and one elementary educator nominated from each of the state's eight educational districts.      Weaver, in her sixth year of teaching at Good Hope Elementary and her seventeenth year as an educator, said she was "very surprised" at the honor and "thrilled" with the chance to speak with Alabama Governor Don Siegelman, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Ed Richardson, and others present at the recognition ceremony.      "We talked about a lot of things," Weaver said of her discussion with Gov. Siegelman. "We talked about education ... I also tried to get a plug in for the outdoor classroom project I'm working on."      Weaver said that she hopes grant monies will be available to help fund the project, which will provide for an "outdoor classroom" and park at the new Good Hope School, which is now in the planning stages.
The classroom, if built, will include a walking trail, a bluebird trail, flower gardens, a butterfly garden and a weather station: all designed to give students a chance to experience nature and science from a hands-on perspective.      Weaver also took the opportunity of an audience with the Governor to praise her school and its staff.      "I talked about our school a lot: what a good school it is; how wonderful our teachers, administrators, parents and students are ..." Weaver said. "Both of my daughters go to [Good Hope], and there's a reason for that. I believe we have the best teachers here ... many better than I. It's a great school and I'm proud to be a part of it."      Weaver is herself a graduate of Good Hope. In fact, she was a third-grade student in the very classroom where she now teaches. Her post-secondary education background includes Wallace State College in Hanceville and Auburn University. After doing her student teaching in England, Weaver returned to the United States and obtained her Master's Degree from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.      Weaver said she truly loves her job and loves working with children. She credits much of her happiness in her job to her father, who "put a strong emphasis on teaching."      "I love what I do," Weaver said. "I can't imagine doing anything else, now."      Weaver was nominated by her fellow teachers for the honor, an act which set into motion a year-long process of interviews and questions, followed by review at the district level and then the state level.      "I was very surprised to have won," Weaver said. "It was very exciting to go to Montgomery, to the Museum of Fine Art, and to eat with the Governor and the state superintendent. It was a very fun and exciting trip."      In addition to a plaque recognizing her as District Six Elementary Teacher of the Year, Weaver was also presented with an official resolution recognizing her work, a $500 check for classroom materials and a $50 savings bond for her personally. She also received many other gifts, including a dictionary, stationary and notepads naming her as 'District Six Elementary Teacher of the Year.'      "I just want to thank everybody who helped me get this," Weaver said. "The teachers have been very supportive, my family has been very supportive ... the parents and the students and the school administrators ... I appreciate everyone who has contributed to where I am today. Especially my students ...they're all so wonderful and so important to me."      "The kids are what it's all about."