“I come from a family of educators who inspired my passion for teaching,” shared Autumn Ford, Kindergarten teacher at J. Larry Newton Elementary in Fairhope. Her grandfather, grandmother, and mother are all well-rooted in the Baldwin County teaching community, which made her decision to become an educator an obvious one.
Autumn graduated from the University of Alabama in 2022 with her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. The next year, she immediately followed that with a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. She is currently continuing her graduate education to earn her Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Elementary Education.
“I would describe my teaching style as engaging and student-centered. I believe in seizing every opportunity to make learning meaningful and exciting for my students. I focus on recognizing the individuality of each student while building a strong sense of community within our classroom,” said Autumn.
Autumn incorporates a lot of singing and dancing in her classroom to help engage her students. She goes on to share that all the movement and music create an energetic and joyful vibe in her classroom. In turn, her students create meaningful connections to their lessons.
One of Autumn’s most memorable moments in her last three years was when a student shared how they remembered the songs they sang in class and how she made every student feel like they mattered.
“Moments like that remind me that teaching is about creating a lasting impact on a child’s heart and helping them believe in themselves,” she said.
Being nominated for the Eastern Shore Teacher of the Month award is a huge honor for Autumn and one she says is grateful to receive. It is a reminder that the long days, hard work, and heart she puts into teaching truly matter and make an impactful difference.
“More personally, it makes me feel like I’m making my parents and former teachers proud by continuing my grandparents’ legacy of dedication to education and service to the community,” reflected Autumn. “All their influences shaped who I am as a teacher, and knowing they would be proud of the educator I am becoming, which makes this recognition even more meaningful. It’s not just an award for me; it’s a celebration of the people who paved the way for me to be here. “
Autumn Ford is the proud dog mom of Pepper and Onyx and has a passion for the arts. She loves to sing, dance, and play the saxophone.
