Jennifer Asberry, the STEAM lab teacher at Council Traditional School, has been named as a finalist for Alabama’s Teacher of the Year by the Alabama State Board of Education.

The state announced its “Sweet 16” in a news release here: The “Sweet 16” Officially Announced Today for Alabama Teacher of the Year

Asberry, the MCPSS Elementary School Teacher of the Year, has taught at Council Traditional School since 2016. For the last five years, she has led Council’s STEAM lab, teaching science, technology, engineering, arts and math concepts to all grades at this historic magnet school near downtown Mobile.

In that capacity, Asberry created the school’s annual Family STEAM Night, a schoolwide evening event that attracts upwards of 250 attendees to visit multiple interactive learning stations and become engaged in collaborative learning. She also coordinates the school’s annual STEM Day Celebration, which is modeled on national events that promote awareness of these concepts to elementary students, and she serves as chair of the Fifth Grade Science Fair, leading student preparation classes and ensuring that projects are aligned with state science standards. She also sponsors two after-school science exploration clubs at Council.

Asberry is a UTEACH South Mentor, assisting STEM majors at the University of South Alabama. She has written elementary science curriculums and served on state-level ACAP Summative committees. She is active in several professional organizations, including the Alabama Science Teaching Association and the National Science Teaching Association.

An educator for more than 20 years, Asberry earned a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of South Alabama, as well as a secondary certification in English Language Arts. She believes that instruction must be experiential to be transformative, and always strives to spark a lifelong love of learning in her students.

“Her professionalism, creativity, and dedication to excellence make a lasting impact on both students and staff,” said Allison Streeter, Council’s Principal.

MCPSS has a great track record in the Alabama Teacher of the Year competition over the past decade, including one state Teacher of the Year and two Secondary Teachers of the Year:

• Roseann Byrd of Citronelle High was a Sweet 16 finalist in 2025
• Meagan Gayle of Hutchens Elementary was a Sweet 16 finalist in 2023
• William Edmonds of Barton Academy was named Alabama’s Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2022
• Julie Niedhardt, who was at Hutchens Elementary, was a top four finalist in 2021
• David Dai of Bryant High was Alabama’s Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2020
• Nadine Lynch was a Sweet 16 finalist in 2018
• Chasity Collier of Dawes Intermediate was named Alabama’s Teacher of the Year in 2017