Librarian at Tuscaloosa Magnet School Finalist for Elementary Teacher of the Year

The librarian at a school for gifted students in Tuscaloosa has been named as a finalist for the prestigious Alabama Elementary Teacher of the Year award.

The state-run, statewide search celebrates excellence in teaching and educators who are invested in and committed to student success.

Katy Busby of Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary has been selected for the honor and is one of just 16 contenders in the running. She was delighted with that news at a surprise ceremony for her on Monday morning.

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In a press release touting the honor, a spokesperson for Tuscaloosa City Schools said Busby has been an employee there for years, working as both a classroom teacher for 15 years and a librarian for four.

She was named the system's Elementary Teacher of the Year for Tuscaloosa City Schools late last year and was then submitted for consideration for the statewide honor.

The Alabama State Department of Education selected 16 finalists and will further narrow that pool to four. No TCS teacher has made it this far in a decade, Superintendent Mike Daria said.

“I was in her library during a lesson last week, and to see the enthusiasm, the knowledge, and the level of engagement from her students, it’s absolute magic,” Daria said. “That’s what our teachers do. They create these incredible learning experiences every day that help students love learning and understand how it connects beyond the classroom. That’s what Ms. Busby does so well.”

“She is not only a gold standard of excellence in teaching, but someone who helps us continually raise that standard,” he said. “She doesn’t just meet expectations, she helps redefine them. You see it in her work, in how she connects with students, and in the care she shows for her school and our entire system.”

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