Carol Bohatch, second from left, and Nancy Brandon, second from right, are nominees for State Teacher of the Year. They receive congratulations from Dr. Brian Clayton, from left, Dr. Dee Fowler and Dorinda White. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Alabama State Department of Education has nominated Carol Bohatch and Nancy Brandon for State Teacher of the Year.

Bohatch teaches science at James Clemens High School and was named 2015 Secondary Teacher of the Year for the Madison school district. Brandon teaches kindergartners at Rainbow Elementary School and was selected as 2015 Elementary Teacher of the Year for Madison City Schools.

“Their selections for Madison City Schools entered them as contestants for Alabama State Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year to be announced May 11. Having two teachers from the same school district among the ‘Sweet 16’ finalists is phenomenal,” John Peck said. Peck is Manager of Public Relations for the Madison District.

“The educators nominated for this prestigious award nurture the character, intellect and talent of Alabama’s students and are committed to helping their students achieve success in the classroom and beyond,” Sherrill Parris said. Parris is Senior Deputy State Superintendent of Education.

Nominated teachers “exemplify teaching at its best, and we are proud to have them teaching in our state,” Parris said.

Bohatch started working for Madison schools in August 2003.

Bohatch teaches pre-advanced placement and AP chemistry at James Clemens. She founded a teacher-student mentorship program, serves in the faculty senate and co-sponsors Science National Honor Society.

With the district’s Aspiring Administrators Program, Bohatch facilitates research between chemistry professors at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and James Clemens students.

Bohatch earned a bachelor’s degree at Kent State University and a master’s degree at the University of Akron. She formerly taught in Cleveland, Ohio and at Bob Jones.

Brandon has taught in Madison since August 2000. At Rainbow, she serves on the English Language Arts committee, numerous leadership teams and as a mentor for student teachers.

Last year, Brandon and Rainbow’s media specialist completed collaborative research to teach students about informational text by having students write their own narratives. The four-week project evolved into two months.

Brandon earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She also has taught in South Carolina, Virginia and locally at Madison Elementary School.