Roslyn Wright recently received the surprise of her 35-year teaching career when she learned she’s being honored as one of WSFA’s Class Act award winners.

The Red Level kindergarten teacher has taught at her alma mater since 1978, and has spent all but one of her years as a teacher in kindergarten.

“Mr. (Rodney) Drish did not tell me about it,” she said. “It was a complete surprise, when they came to my room and told me that I was the Class Act.”

Becoming a teacher is something Wright realized she wanted to do when she was a teenager.

“As a teenager, I worked with young children in vacation Bible school and it made me realize I wanted to be a teacher,” she said.

Wright said she earned one of the first early childhood education degrees from Auburn University Montgomery.

Wright taught for two years in the Conecuh County School System before coming home to teach.

“I started the first kindergarten class at Red Level,” she said.

Wright said that the kindergarten curriculum has evolved from just learning letters, numbers and shapes to actually learning how to read.

“I love working with the kids,” she said. “They come here as babies and I get to see the children mature and evolve through their studies.”

Wright said she sees a lot more progression since the curriculum has advanced.

“Now they learn to put sounds and letters together to form words,” she said. “And they are so delighted and proud that they can do it.”

Wright, who will retire at the end of this school year, said she has enjoyed her tenure as a teacher and said the most important things to remember, is to “love the children and love what you do.”

“If you can love them and let them know you do, they will do anything you ask,” she said.

Receiving this honor is something Wright said she never expected.

The segment will air on WSFA’s 10 o’clock report Monday night.