Andalusia Elementary School’s Traneshia Stoudemire became the second local educator named a master teacher by the Alabama Bicentennial Commission.

Master teachers lead Bicentennial Professional Development Institutes for third through fifth grade teachers from across the state. Stoudemire’s AES colleague Jessica Tucker was among the first 12 teachers selected for the program.

“This past summer, Jessica selected me to be her partner teacher,” Stoudemire said. “Working as her partner teacher, I assisted her this summer during her summer institute workshop focusing on the Longleaf Pine. We received great reviews and feedback from the three and a half-day teacher workshop.”

Stoudemire is one of only two teachers added to the original master teacher roster. She will teach a session to other teachers focusing on famous Alabamians and events in or near Talladega such as Helen Keller, the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, the Talladega Superspeedway, the Talladega National Forest, and the DeSoto Caverns.

“I am beyond exited, honored, and super proud to be chosen,” Stoudemire said. “I also feel as if I wouldn’t have been selected or ‘discovered’ without my amazing coworker!”

Tucker will assist Stoudemire in Talladega, and Stoudemire will continue to assist Tucker in the Conecuh.

Stoudemire is in her ninth year of teaching fifth grade at AES.

“I was in my third year of college before I knew that I wanted to be a teacher,” she said. “I remember growing up and helping out my siblings with their homework because my mom did not have the patience! I always calmly intervened and willingly helped out.”

Patience is a key quality for teachers, she said.

“I also love helping others try to succeed and figure out ways to help them best learn to figure things out,” she said.

Stoudemire grew up in Heath and attended Straughn from K-12. I attended LBW for two years, then transferred to the University of West Alabama to complete her bachelor’s degree. She recently earned a master’s degree from the University of Alabama at Huntsville.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, particularly romances, and going to the beach.