By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist
Well-known and well-loved language pathologist Chris Oyer, is called “the speech teacher” by her students. Oyer has been with the Shelby County School System for 37 years and still loves her job.
Servicing Oak Mountain middle and high schools and also working in two of Shelby County’s transitional programs (The Growing Place) and (Project Search at Shelby Baptist Medical Center) Oyer stays busy.
“Transitional programs prepare our students with special needs to get jobs and take care of all their daily needs,” said Oyer. “These two programs are the reason I stayed with the Shelby County School System.”
Another passion of Oyer’s is assistive technology, which provides low, medium and high tech support for students with specific needs.
After graduating from Shades Valley High School in 1969, Oyer (nee Chris Campbell) attended Walker Junior College from 1969 to 1972 and then the University of Montevallo graduating in 1974 with a masters of science in speech pathology.
She attended the University of Alabama where she received her AA certification in 1989.
“I was determined to be a UA grad,” she said.
Oyer met future husband Scott Oyer while at the University of Montevallo. Both were members of the Purple Group in the annual College Night competition at the school. She as a member of the cast and he as technical director.
Residents of Alabaster for 33 years now, the Oyer family has been involved in youth baseball, school, church, dance, gymnastics and community activities. Oyer lists Chinese and Italian foods as her favorites. Also on that “favorites list” would be Alabama football, the Atlanta Braves and NASCAR.
The Oyer family consists of sons Chris and Mark, daughter Melissa and three grandchildren.
Oyer loves the Christmas holidays and remembers spraying menthol shaving cream on Christmas trees in her childhood. Tt made great artificial snow and fantastic shaving cream wars.
Oyer is a “yes” person, and is always ready to volunteer at church, school or in the community. She is blessed with a wonderful singing voice and cherishes time with her family.  From church to campfire, from school to home, this lady lives a full life.