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Award Notification:  Dr. Melody Tucker (AL '15)

Dr. Melody Tucker Is 2015-16 Milken Educator for Alabama

Dr. Melody Tucker, chair of the science department at Citronelle High School, thought the school was getting an award from Alabama Superintendent of Education Dr. Tommy Bice at the morning assembly. "We thought it was because of our graduation rate or the academies we have here...that's what everyone thought," Tucker said. Instead, Tucker received the surprise of her career: Alabama's 2015-16 Milken Educator Award and a check for $25,000.

Tucker, who teaches regular, Honors and AP Biology as well as Honors Anatomy and Physiology, is an Alabama New Teacher Mentor, participates in the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI), and organizes a summer program for at-risk students. Her students at high-poverty Citronelle High School maintain a 93% pass rate.

"When I was in middle school and high school, I had wonderful teachers who made me love science and learning," Tucker says. "I wanted to make it my lifelong goal to share my love of learning and hopefully inspire other students to have the same thing."