Each November, the Alabama State Department of Education recognizes Thank Alabama Teachers Month. Now in its seventh year, the statewide observance highlights the work teachers do to help students build knowledge, develop confidence, and prepare for life after high school.
At Lee High School, that work takes place within a community that calls itself FamiLEE. At Lee, LEE stands for Leadership, Empathy, and Excellence. Those values shape how teachers support students, work with families, and contribute to the larger school community.
Teaching Extends Beyond the Class Period
The most visible part of teaching happens in the classroom, but much of the work takes place before and after a lesson.
Teachers study academic standards, plan instruction, prepare materials, review student work, analyze results, and adjust lessons based on what students need. They communicate with families, write recommendations, supervise activities, support school events, and help students recover when an absence or setback interrupts learning.
Teachers also help students make important decisions. A teacher may encourage a student to enroll in a challenging course, revise work for publication, audition for a program, enter a competition, apply for a scholarship, or consider a career the student had not previously imagined.
This work reflects Lee’s values. Leadership means helping students recognize possibilities and take responsibility for their progress. Empathy means understanding that students may need different forms of support while maintaining meaningful expectations. Excellence means continuing to improve instruction and helping students produce work they can be proud of.
The Work of the FamiLEE
Teacher recognition acknowledges one essential part of a larger school effort.
Families support attendance, communication, preparation, and follow-through. Students bring their effort, questions, ideas, and willingness to improve. Counselors, instructional aides, administrators, office staff, coaches, and community partners provide services and opportunities that strengthen the academic program. Teachers connect much of that work to daily instruction.
The statewide campaign also provides an opportunity for students, families, graduates, and community members to acknowledge a current or former teacher whose work has made a difference. Lee teachers may be contacted through ParentSquare or the Lee High School staff directory.
During Thank Alabama Teachers Month, Lee High School recognizes the educators whose planning, instruction, feedback, and persistence help students move forward. Their work demonstrates the Leadership, Empathy, and Excellence at the center of the FamiLEE.