Jefferson’s is pleased to announce that Ashlyn Cagle and Allison Heald have been named, respectively, the first-ever Jefferson’s Gadsden Teacher of the Year and Jefferson’s Rainbow City Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Cagle teaches pre-K through fourth grade special education at Glencoe Elementary School, and Dr. Heald teaches agriscience at Southside High School and is an FFA (Future Farmers of America) advisor.
Mrs. Cagle and Dr. Heald were chosen from a highly competitive pool of nominations submitted by students and community members. The contest, launched in honor of National Teachers’ Day–today, May 6–aims to recognize one of the area’s many deserving educators. Jefferson’s selected Mrs. Cagle and Dr. Heald as Teachers of the Year for the consistency with which they’ve poured their care, knowledge, and energy into their students’ lives.
“Mrs. Cagle’s nominators spoke of her big heart, and her uncanny ability to be a constant soothing presence,” said Jefferson’s president Brandon Graham. “Dr. Heald’s nominators spoke of her tremendous commitment to her community–including building beds for children in need and directing backpack and animal shelter drives. Both of these teachers clearly love their communities, and are loved in return. We’re honored to recognize Mrs. Cagle and Dr. Heald for their dedication and contribution to their communities.”
Each teacher will receive a $500 gift card to Jefferson’s, and their achievement will be commemorated with a “Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year” plaque for all restaurant patrons to see.
“Special education holds a very special place in my heart, particularly teaching social-emotional skills—a true passion of mine,” Cagle said in a statement. “My passion for teaching stems from a lifelong commitment to supporting individuals with diverse learning needs. I am grateful every day for the opportunity to love, teach, and watch each individual child grow at Glencoe Elementary.”
“It is such an honor to serve as an FFA advisor,” Dr. Heald said, “And being trusted by families to carry students on trips to new places. FFA has given us countless experiences, and we have already made enough memories together to last a lifetime. I am so incredibly grateful for that.”
This year is the pilot run for the Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year award, launched as a sister program to Jefferson’s Coach of the Year award, which runs in the fall. The teachers’ initiative was open to teachers working with students of any age, and candidates could be nominated by students, parents and guardians of students, school officials, or other community members.