Ashley Ochsenhirt, a 9-year-old third grader at Inverness Elementary, is Shelby County Reporter student of the week.

Inverness Elementary Principal Mary Howard and Counselor Karen Caldwell selected her for the honor.

According to Howard, Ashley &8220;exhibits exemplary behavior&8221; as both &8220;a friend and a student.&8221; She earned six Shining Stars, a school award, which is &8220;a testament to her helping and kind behavior,&8221; Howard said.

&8220;In the classroom, she is a bright and talented young lady who explores learning with enthusiasm,&8221; she said.

&8220;Ashley attended The Young Author&8217;s Conference where she read a fiction book she authored and illustrated. Her big heart and caring attitude endear her to both her fellow students and teachers.

&8220;The Carmichael Cracker Jacks (her classmates) are thrilled to have Ashley recognized as &8216;Student of the Week.&8217; She exemplifies the finest Cracker Jack traits.&8221;

Ashley is the daughter of Beverly and Bill Ochsenhirt. She has a 10-year-old brother, Alex, and a 4-year-old sister, Avery Rose.

Ashley said her favorite subject is math, &8220;because I practice it a lot, and I know all the problems. I always want to solve the problems.&8221;

Her favorite teacher is Celita Carmichael, who teaches her in the third grade, Ashley said, because, &8220;she&8217;s … like … really funny, and she has good book talk. When she reads a book, she reads like the character.&8221;

Ashley said her favorite teacher also does cartwheels.

Ashley has been recognized for perfect attendance, as a Shining Star and is a straight A student. She said she likes to play tennis on a tennis team at Inverness Racquet Club in the USTA. And she likes to play basketball one-on-one, sing and draw.

She said her favorite superheroes are her parents because, &8220;They always defend me and protect me. They never let me go alone far away.&8221;

When she grows up, Ashley said she wants to teach tennis and teach at Inverness Elementary. She said of teaching tennis, &8220;It&8217;s just so much fun to take the balls out of the basket, and they get paid money.&8221;

Of teaching school, &8220;I used to like to play school with my baby dolls, and it seemed fun,&8221; she said.

Ashley said she wants to go to Auburn University because her brother wants to go there and, &8220;because I like their team.&8221;