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EDITOR’S NOTE: The LaGrange Daily News is doing a Q&A with all of the teachers of the year in the Troup County School System. Today we are writing about Abbie Anderson, a teacher at Hogansville Elementary School. We asked her 20 questions, and we’ve shortened this interview to some of our favorite responses.

Abbie Anderson has worked in education for seven years. She worked as a long-term substitute teacher at Hogansville Elementary for a year and was offered a teaching position. She’s been at HES ever since.

She’s the daughter of Kelly and Della Anderson. She has a brother named Brian and a boyfriend named Wesley.

In addition to teaching, Anderson is the assistant coach for the Hogansville basketball cheer team, allowing her to “relive her glory days” after growing up a cheerleader through the Troup County Parks and Recreation Department.

She’s also a a member of Alpha Delta Kappa which is an international honorary organization for women educators and I am also a member of the Junior Service League. She has served in Alpha Delta Kappa for three years and Junior Service League for two years.

Q: Who or what inspired you to become a teacher?

A: “My aunt, Delane Knight, and my uncle, Ricky Knight (Coach Knight), inspired me to become an educator. My uncle actually taught me at Long Cane Middle School. I am inspired by my aunt, who was a special needs teacher and has the patience of a saint. I was also inspired by my fourth grade teacher, Jason Willis. I used to file and staple papers for him and was basically a teacher’s pet. I used to think teaching and stapling was the majority of what a teacher did. Ha!”

Q: What are your career aspirations?

A: “I would love to become a literacy facilitator or instructional coach. I love all things literacy-related.”

Q: If you weren’t a teacher, what career field would you be in?

A: “If I weren’t a teacher, I would be a forensic investigator. I have always loved criminology and am a total Crime Junkie!”

Q: If your teaching style had a theme song, what would it be?

A: “If my teaching style had a theme song, it would be Disney relaxing piano music since that’s our daily playlist. I take a calm approach to teaching. “

Q:  What’s the most creative/unique project one of your classes has worked on?

A: The most creative project my students have worked on is creating a boat that could float during our physical science unit. Students had to apply their knowledge of physical attributes and work as a team to construct a floating boat using different materials. It was neat to see how they were able to problem solve and work as a team as kindergarten students.”

Q: If you could invite any historical figure to speak to your class, who would you choose and why?

A: “If I could invite a historical figure to speak to my class, it would be Abraham Lincoln because we discuss him often in kindergarten.”

Q: What did it mean to you to be named your school’s teacher of the year?

A:” It meant a lot for me to be named the teacher of the year for Hogansville. I love my school family and my students. I am very grateful for this honor.”

Q: As your students transition to the next grade, what is one key takeaway you hope they carry forward from their time in your class?

A: “I hope my students know I will always be their #1 cheerleader. I hope they always remember to try their best and give it their all. I strive to help my students develop independence so I hope they leave me feeling more confident about themselves.”