Carrie Sanders was named Alabama PTA Support Staff of the Year. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Carrie Sanders has been named Alabama PTA Support Staff of the Year for all middle and junior high schools in the state.Sanders was recognized at the Alabama PTA state convention at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel on April 20.

As clerical aide at Discovery Middle School, Sanders usually is “the first person people see when entering the school building.” She greets parents, checks students in/out and assists students with problems, like jammed lockers or forgotten locker combinations.

In addition, she works as crossing guard, which she likes except on rainy days. “People all the time tell me, ‘Thanks for being out here keeping traffic moving and our kids safe — rain or shine,'” Sanders said. She also plants annual flowers around Discovery’s campus.

Sanders has worked at Discovery for 10 years. Previously, she worked as an UPS driver, a secretary and owned a lawn service.

“The people I work with make this the best job ever,” Sanders said. “We’re just like a big family here at Discovery. We have some awesome parents in the city of Madison.”

At Discovery Middle School, Carrie Sanders works as a crossing guard, clerical aid and gardener. (CONTRIBUTED)

A Hoosier at heart, Sanders grew up in Springport, Ind. in the Indianapolis vicinity. She played basketball in high school and at the University of North Alabama, where she earned a bachelor’s degree.

Her husband Scott works as an analyst at Quantum Research International. Their sons are Austin, a University of Alabama in Huntsville freshman, and Matt, a Bob Jones High School junior. Austin and Matt both play baseball.

Among hundreds of teachers, Sanders will always remember Jennifer Dahlke, who was Austin and Matt’s English teacher. “Jennifer is an outstanding teacher, loves all her students and has always been a friend,” Sander said. “She is always happy and upbeat at school and that spreads throughout all the lives she touches.”

Among Discovery students, Andrea ‘Drea’ Mathews impressed Sanders with her fun-loving spirit that attracted people around her. “She was an outstanding athlete and came up with the funniest stories about the most random things.”