Two Orange Beach City School teachers were surprised last week during a tour of the schools when Superintendent Randy Wilkes and board members announced Kristen Rayborn and Rhonda Prater as the 2023-24 teachers of the year.

Rayborn, a fifth-grade teacher, has worked in Orange Beach classrooms since 2011, citing Orange Beach as not only a family but also a community.

"I taught here for eight years before my son went into kindergarten and was always so eager for him to start school knowing he was going to get exceptional teachers who challenge, love and guide our students," Rayborn said. "Our school system is growing, and our small elementary school has grown, too, but it still feels like a small community. Everyone knows each other and supports each other inside and outside of the classroom."

Rayborn also said her favorite parts of teaching are connecting with her students and building relationships that continue past the end of the school year.

"I love the relationships that I build with my students. Over the years, I have had previous fifth-graders come and help me move my classroom to a new building or set up for the new school year. I get to chat with them and hear how they are doing in their new grade level," Rayborn said. "Just yesterday, I received an email from a former student who is now a high schooler. It said, 'I just wanted to say congratulations on getting teacher of the year; no one deserves it more than you. You impacted my life so much and really helped me succeed. I just wanted to say thank you for all that you have done for me.' It is words like this that makes this job so rewarding."

According to the city school district, Rayborn was also a key contributor to the school system's recent academic achievements, as the fifth-graders earned the system's second-highest proficiency scores in mathematics during the 2022-23 school year.

Prater, who has been with the school system since 2019, teaches Spanish at the middle and high school.

"Her innovative lessons foster a connection between not only us students and her but also provide opportunities for the students to make new connections among themselves," said one of Prater's current students. "Well-respected, dedicated, supportive and intentional are words used to describe Ms. Prater. She is not only a teacher of Spanish, but a teacher of passion."

Chris Shaw, principal, said he couldn't be prouder to have Prater represent the school.

"We are so proud to have Ms. Prater as our teacher of the year. She is phenomenal," Shaw said. "She builds relationships with her students, and they really adore her, she is very passionate. She is the first one in the building and the last one to leave, she is what teaching is all about."

Both teachers will be honored at an upcoming awards ceremony at the Orange Beach Event Center on Jan. 30, 2024.