By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Alabama's Teacher of the Year teaches eighth grade math at Auburn Junior High School. Cynda Fickert was honored with the award Wednesday night at a reception for the state's 16 district finalists. Fickert will spend the 2004-2005 school year as an ambassador for public education and the teaching profession. She also automatically became the state's candidate for National Teacher of the Year. Each Alabama school system nominates one elementary and one secondary teacher for the award. Sixteen finalists are selected, and a committee interviews four of them to determine the winner.