FLORENCE – Kilby Laboratory School is ranked No. 1 in Best Public Elementary School Teachers in Alabama for 2022-2023, according to a report released by Niche, a national education research group.
“It is an honor for our faculty to be recognized for their hard work and commitment to excellence,” said Dr. Eric Kirkman, director of Kilby Laboratory School, located on the University of North Alabama campus. “Not just for the students they serve directly, but the preservice teachers that come to observe and learn from the exemplars they provide for instruction, classroom management and culture.”
Kilby is the only laboratory school in Alabama, and its core mission of providing a training ground in teacher education is intact and thriving.
Students enrolled in the College of Education and Human Sciences spend time at Kilby as they prepare to graduate and move into classrooms of their own.
“Our Laboratory School has a long-standing tradition of excellence and high student achievement, and it does not happen by accident or by chance,” Kirkman said. “It comes from a collaborative effort between the school, the parents, the College of Education and Human Sciences at UNA, and the university community at large.”
Dr. Katie Kinney, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences, said the work of preparing high-quality teachers begins with engaging novice teachers with exemplary mentors.
“At UNA, we are fortunate to have a laboratory for that important work,” Kinney said. “Kilby Laboratory School underscores UNA’s commitment to showcasing teaching excellence and highlighting the impact of quality mentoring on teacher candidates who are prepared to serve future Alabama students.”
Other Shoals-area schools that placed in the Top 25 on the Niche list include McBride Elementary School in Muscle Shoals; Forest Hills School in the Florence city system; and Brooks Elementary School in the Lauderdale County system.
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