Athens High School teacher now finalist for Alabama Teacher of the Year
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The 2025 Alabama Teacher of the Year Award’s final four nominees were announced this week and a local educator is still in the running for the prestigious award.
Let’s get to know her:
Amanda J. Gudmundsson – Athens High School
Amanda Gudmundsson was named District VIII Secondary Teacher of the Year earlier this month when the 16 finalists for the top honor were announced.
Gudmundsson has more than 20 years of teaching experience, with 17 of those in Athens, where she teaches Government, Economics and History.
The nomination is a testament to her dedication to her students throughout her career, according to Hville Blast Content Producer Elizabeth Hobbs, a former student of “Ms. G.”
“Ms. Gudmundsson, or ‘Ms. G.’ as we called her, is one of my most memorable teachers from Athens. She taught my 8th grade ancient history class and her passion, wit and teaching style made the subject so much fun.
Beyond the classroom, she organized an annual week-long field trip to New York for 8th grade students. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many students, including myself, to travel to The Big Apple.”
Elizabeth Hobbs, former student of Amanda Gudmundsson
She attended the University of North Alabama and earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Montevallo.
The Alabama teacher of the Year Awards
The 2025-2026 finalists were selected from among 155 educators across the state who were recommended by district superintendents, principals and colleagues through the rigorous Alabama Teacher of the Year application process.
The final four nominees for the award are:
- Katie Collins – Bluff Park Elementary School, Hoover
- Katherine A. Thomas – Edgewood Elementary School, Homewood
- Aubrey Bennett – G.W. Carver High School, Birmingham
- Amanda Gudmundsson – Athens High School, Athens
Some other North Alabama educators were among the original 16 finalists, including:
- Catherine Megan Hockey, Rainbow Elementary School (District VIII Elementary Teacher of the Year)
- Heather Oden Pettit, Arab High School (District VI Secondary Teacher of the Year)
- Andrew Lee Mills, Florence Middle School (District VII Secondary Teacher of the Year)
- Deidra Brewer, Highland Park and Webster Elementary Schools (District VII Elementary Teacher of the Year)
The winner will be announced by the Alabama State Board of Education and Alabama State Department of Education in May.
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