By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

Melissa Bush, local kindergarten teacher at First Baptist of Alabaster, is originally from Orlando, Fla. In fact, she attended the grand opening of Disney World in a stroller.

In 1987, she graduated from Oak Ridge High School and began college. It was at her home church, First Baptist of Orlando, where Scott Bush visited.

Scott and Melissa fell in love, married in 1990 and after transferring to Samford University in Birmingham, both graduated in 1993.

Scott continued his divinity goal at Beeson and Covenant and is now the pastor at Southcrest Baptist in Bessemer and a chaplain in the Army Reserves.

Graduation from college was the end of schooling, but the beginning of the real world. One of Bush’s friends told her about an opening for a kindergarten teacher at First Baptist of Alabaster. The rest is history.

For 20 years now “Missy” Bush has taught every age group and in practically every classroom.

“I absolutely love teaching. I feel honored to be there when a light clicks on and understanding dawns,” she said.

When asked to tell what 4-year-olds might do in her classroom, she replied, “We learn to read and write and we can dance like squirrels. We grieve over the loss of a pet but rejoice over the loss of a first tooth. We cook apples and create beautiful artwork. We learn to walk in a straight line and make new friends. We take the first steps of independence together. It is the very best job in the world.”

Bush reflects her first students are now young adults at the age of 25. She still keeps in touch with families she has met through the years.

Her own children, daughter Shelly, age 18, a freshman at Samford University and son Andrew, age 14, a freshman at Pelham High School, keep her busy, along with her church work, reading and photography.

Bush believes any other profession would be boring. Teaching is her dream come true.