By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

Patricia Tauber was recently elected “Teacher of the Year – Secondary” at Thompson Middle School.

After her election by fellow teachers at her school, she answered four preselected questions and was then reviewed by a committee of the Alabaster School System who then selected the Secondary Teacher of the Year from the schools representatives. District competition is next!

Tauber has been at Thompson Middle School for 10 years.

For seven years she taught seventh grade Civics and Geography and for three years has taught eighth grade World History.

Teaching both General Ancient History and Pre-AP Ancient World History might seem like a boring job to some, but Tauber loves her subject.

She loves mentoring university student interns and first-year teachers (Tauber has hosted six university student teachers and mentored two first-year teachers).

“When I see a spark of love for learning in my students it makes all the hard work I put into my lessons worthwhile,” says Tauber.

A graduate of Oak Mountain High School, Tauber received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from the University of Montevallo.

Tauber has served on the School Improvement Team and as the Social Studies Chair.

She is also the Student Council sponsor at Thompson Middle School.

Adopted by her grandparents when she was young, Tauber has had the opportunity to travel to many places with them.

Among some favorites are France, United Kingdom, Italy, Ireland, Russia and the Ukraine.

Traveling with her grandparents is among her best childhood memories.

She still hopes to take a trip to Australia and visit the Australian Zoo made famous by Steve Irwin.

Married to Kevin Tauber, park supervisor at Pelham Park, they are hoping to start their family in the future.

They are both active in a trap, neuter, release (TNR) program for feral cat colonies and have three wonderful kitties.

Avid Alabama fans, they attend all home games and recently attended the National Championship Game in Arizona.

Tauber says she loves the variety in her teaching job to include mentoring, teaching strategies, lesson planning and dozens of other rewarding facets of her job.