MOBILE, Alabama – Mobile County Public Schools recognized its top three teachers of 2025, naming them as the countywide Teachers of the Year and surprising them in their classrooms.

They are:

• Krissy Brown of Gilliard Elementary, the Mobile County Elementary School Teacher of the Year
• Justine Wilson of Grand Bay Middle, the Mobile County Middle School Teacher of the Year
• Roseann Byrd of Citronelle High, the Mobile County High School Teacher of the Year

Each of Mobile County’s 90 schools selects a Teacher of the Year, who is then nominated for the countywide honor. A committee selected these three winners and will forward applications on to be considered by the state for Alabama’s Teacher of the Year.

“These outstanding educators have done an exceptional job in the classroom and beyond,” said Mobile County Public Schools Superintendent Chresal D. Threadgill. “This honor is a tangible recognition of their dedication to student achievement and success. I am very proud of them, and I congratulate them on this terrific accomplishment.”

MCPSS has a great track record in the Alabama Teacher of the Year competition, having had one Alabama Teacher of the Year, two Alabama Secondary Teachers of the Year, and several finalists in recent years. (Maegan Gayle of Hutchens Elementary, finalist, 2023; William Edmonds of Barton Academy, Alabama’s Secondary Teacher of the Year, 2022; Julie Neidhardt, finalist, 2021; David Dai of Bryant High, Alabama’s Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2020;  Chasity Collier, Alabama’s Teacher of the Year in 2018).

Here is information about each of the Mobile County Teachers of the Year:

Krissy Brown is a fourth-grade teacher at Gilliard Elementary, where she has been on staff since 2022. She serves as the Lead Math Teacher for fourth grade, and was an Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative Math and Science Coaching Cycle Participant, a statewide program to improve STEM teaching. In her young career as an educator, she has already won numerous accolades, including a WKRG Golden Apple Award and a classroom grant from the 68 Ventures Bowl Extra Yard for Teachers program, and she was named to the Nappie Award finals for “Coolest Public Elementary School Teacher.” She is certified in K-6 Elementary Education, K-6 Special Education, and P-3 Early Childhood Special Education. Mrs. Brown earned collaborative Bachelors of Science degrees in K-6 Elementary and Special Education from the University of South Alabama. In 2023, she assisted in the creation of “Hope for Students,” a school-community partnership that provides food, clothing and hygiene products to students from underserved communities. Ms. Brown embraces innovative teaching strategies that engage students while catering to their diverse learning needs. She believes that every student has the potential for excellence, and strives to make lasting impacts on her students’ lives by nurturing their potential with love, guidance and support.

Justine Cauley Wilson, a 13-year veteran of the classroom, teaches U.S. history to sixth-graders at Grand Bay Middle School, where she serves as Social Studies Department Chair and coaches the Scholars Bowl Team. She is a Gifted Education Specialist and holds certifications in Gifted P-12. Mrs. Wilson discovered her passion for history at a young age through her elementary school’s gifted and talented program. A graduate of Satsuma High School, she completed her bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education Social Sciences from the University of South Alabama. At Grand Bay Middle, Mrs. Wilson strives to create a classroom environment where every student feels valued, challenged, and empowered to reach their full potential. In addition, she is an advocate for her fellow educators; for the past six years, she has served as a mentoring teacher, providing guidance on lesson planning, professional ethics, classroom management and technology integration. “Serving as a mentor teacher has enhanced my own teaching practices, and it fosters a positive and collaborative school culture,” she said.

Roseann Byrd has been teaching for 19 years, the last 11 at Citronelle High School, where she leads Advanced Placement courses in U.S. History, Psychology, and American Government and Politics. She is the school’s Social Studies Department Chair, serves on the Leadership Team, coaches the Academic Team and is Student Council Sponsor. After learning about and researching the A+ College Ready Program, she was instrumental in implementing it at Citronelle High with the goal of improving instructional rigor and raising the school’s state report card grade. The program played a pivotal role in fostering success in Advanced Placement coursework for teachers and students at Citronelle, and resulted in tangible success when the school’s state report card grade rose by 11 points one year later. Mrs. Byrd earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education Social Studies from the University of South Alabama and a master of education at the University of West Alabama, and is working on an Educational Specialist in Education Leadership certification from the University of West Alabama. She is inspired by the expanding use of transformative technologies to enhance her students’ skills in critical thinking and innovation. “To be an educator is to embrace the ever-evolving nature of our field with courage and hope,” she said. “The work we do is more than a career; it is a mission that changes lives, shapes communities, and creates possibilities for generations to come.”