By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

A Thompson Middle School teacher’s desire to see her students go on to give back to society recently earned her Teacher of the Month honors from the Alabaster-Pelham Rotary Club.

Seventh-grade science teacher Amanda Wilbanks earned the award during the Rotary club’s Sept. 26 meeting at Alabaster’s Shelby Baptist Medical Center. During the meeting, TMS Principal Katie Zielinski said Wilbanks entered the teaching profession after spending years in the public sector.

“She is truly one of our special people,” Zielinski said of Wilbanks.

Wilbanks leads the TMS scholars bowl team, and often goes above and beyond to ensure her students receive a good education.

“She meets the students’ needs in the classroom and after school through scholars bowl,” Zielinski said. “We are truly gifted and honored to have her.”

Wilbanks said she was honored by the award, and said she has not looked back since moving from her previous job to teaching.

“I really lost sight of what I was doing. I only regret that I didn’t become a teacher sooner,” Wilbanks said. “They say you don’t work a day in your life when you are doing something you love. I haven’t worked a day in years.

“I try to push my students to be morally conscious members of society,” Wilbanks said.