Special Education teacher honored in Wilcox Co.

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

A special education teacher in Wilcox County calls it quits after more than four decades in the classroom.

Wilcox Central High School Special Education teacher Archye Anderson is retiring at the end of the school year after teaching in the school district for nearly 50 years.

“It’s gonna leave a void. She’s been telling us for two or three years that she’s gonna retire. But this year she finally told me Mr. Black, I’ve signed my paperwork. My paperwork has been submitted,” said Principal Curtis Black.

Black says Anderson has been a dedicated leader at Wilcox Central over the years, a gifted teacher known for her motherly compassion towards her students.

“You’ve got to be willing to give of yourself. And that might be any given day, any given time,” said Anderson.

“Relationships that she build with her students, as well as, understanding their disabilities and providing that tiered instruction to build upon their needs, it’s dynamic.

Anderson says two keys are to never treat every student the same — and to recognize that each child is special.

“Because our children have unique personalities, unique characteristics that they will need that’s different from the next child,” said Anderson.

Black says teachers like Anderson are hard to find — difficult to replace — and impossible to forget.

“And I told her, I said Ms. Anderson, I said I hate to see you leave, but you know, job well done,” said Black.

“The impact that teachers have on the lives of students is tremendously important,” said Anderson

The hard work and dedication of teachers nationwide — are being celebrated this week.

National Teacher Appreciation Week is observed — during the first full week of May each year.