MADISON – Her colleagues at Liberty Middle School have voiced their choice for Traci Berry as 2019 “Staff Member of the Year.”

“I came to Liberty as a lunchroom manager in January 2014 after working at Bob Jones High School as a CNP worker since November 1997,” Berry said.

A native of Madison, Berry have lived in the community for 47 years. She completed two years of study at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

From all of the individuals that Berry has worked with or met in her career, she will never forget Barbara Turner. “I have always had a love for science. I loved all of my science teachers, but Mrs. Turner was my teacher for biology and human physiology,” Berry said.

“I have always been fascinated by the human body, and Mrs. Turner made learning fun and interesting,” Berry said. “She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and would make sure you were striving to do the best you could. She was and still is a sweet soul.”

She is married to Danny Berry. He works as a Grade IV Plant Operator for Madison Utilities. “I one daughter, two stepsons, one grandchild and seven step-grandchildren,” she said.

When she was younger, Berry had hopes to become a surgical nurse.

When Berry isn’t at work at Liberty, she likes to devote time to sewing, cross-stitching and relaxing with her family. “I love useless trivia,” she said about another off-duty pastime that she enjoys.

Each spring, teachers and staff members at each school in the Madison City Schools district nominate and vote for a colleague as Teacher of the Year and Staff Member of the Year. The Central Office staff and Transportation Department employees also select a Staff Member of the Year.