In the beginning, Angie McCaster wanted to be a nurse. &#8220I always knew I wanted to help people, so nursing is what I planned on,” she said.

That was before she started her tutoring job at LBW Community College in Andalusia.

&#8220I was working with kids as a tutor and I just fell in love with it – so I decided to change my major,” McCaster explained.

It seems to have been a very wise career move.

McCaster was recently chosen as Georgiana High School's Teacher of the Year.

The LBW and Troy University graduate has been in the classroom at GHS since 2002.

The English teacher says her great love for literature (&#8220my favorite author to share with my students is Langston Hughes”) led her to choose her subject major.

The person McCaster gives the most credit for encouraging her to succeed in life?

&#8220My grandmother, Maomie Works, raised me. She has been my biggest inspiration. She is a hard-working, wonderful lady,” McCaster said.

Georgiana's Teacher of the Year is also pleased to point out the teacher she interned under, Susan Andrews of McKenzie School, was chosen as Teacher of the Year for that school.

&#8220I was really pleased about that,” McCaster said with a smile.

In addition to teaching her English grammar and literature classes, McCaster also serves as yearbook advisor, spelling bee director, VBSST facilitator and serves on the school improvement team.

Naturally, this literature lover is excited about the new books being introduced into the school library, thanks to a recent grant from International Paper.

&#8220My students will complain all the books are too old or they have read them all, and now I can say to them, ‘Hey, we have lots of great new books.'”

Teaching is a constantly challenging profession, but the English instructor says those &#8220ah-ha” moments in the classroom make any difficulties worth it.

&#8220That moment when students finally grasp a concept and you see the light in their eyes

– it's a wonderful feeling,” McCaster said.

Patience – lots of it – and understanding are qualities the teacher believes every good instructor needs to be effective in the classroom.

McCaster also has this advice for those planning to enter the teaching profession.

&#8220I would make sure it is something you really want to do with your life. Teaching can be a very rewarding experience if it is something you really, truly want to pursue.”

In her free time, McCaster said she enjoys spending time with her family.

&#8220When I come home from school, having that time with family is something I really treasure.”

&#8220We are very proud of Ms. McCaster and the fine job she is doing with our students here at Georgiana High,” GHS Principal Keith York said.