By By Lee Weyhrich
A Perdido schoolteacher has been awarded for going the extra mile for her students.
Seventh and eighth grade language arts teacher Mary Grabill has been elected Perdido School's Teacher of the Year by her peers.
"I am very honored to be chosen by my constituents for this because there are a lot of worthy teachers at this school," Grabill said.
The faculty of Perdido holds an annual election to determine who should be selected for this honor. According to Principal Kirby Weaver, the teachers are nominated by the staff and then voted on by the teachers.
"They look for teachers that go the extra mile," Weaver said. "She started our BETA club last year, she started our writing assessments and we have four writing assessments a year for the students and she grades them, and she started our student government this year."
According to assistant principal Dana Horst she is also a member of the School Wide Writing Committee.
"Mrs. Grabill is an outstanding Middle School Teacher," she said. "We are so grateful to have her dedication and talents at Perdido School."
Perdido's receptionist Sheila Simpson, the parent of one of Grabill's former students, was excited to hear Grabill had won the award.
"I'm so glad Mrs. Grabill got teacher of the year," Simpson said. "She'll do some of the most amazing things for the kids."
Simpson said she was most proud of her son's accomplishments when Grabill was his teacher.
"My son had her for two years in seventh and eighth grade and he just excelled," Simpson said. "She has definitely been an asset to our campus."
This is the first time Grabill has been selected for the award.
"This is my first time," Grabill said. "I have been at Perdido School for five years, but I've been in education for 25 years."
Grabill found out about her nomination over the intercom during the morning announcements last week.
Educators nominated as Teacher of the Year join other outstanding educators from throughout Baldwin County at an annual banquet in April.
"We are honored by the county with a dinner they give us in April," Grabill said.