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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — In a story Oct. 29 about an Alabama teacher resigning, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Ann Marie Corgill was the reigning Teacher of the Year. Corgill received the honor for the 2014-2015 school year, but a new teacher of the year has been named for the 2015-2016 school year.
A corrected version of the story is below:
Onetime Teacher of the Year submits letter of resignation
Onetime Teacher of the Year resigns after being told she was unqualified to teach 5th grade
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A one-time Alabama Teacher of the Year was confused after being informed she was unqualified to teach the fifth grade.
Ann Marie Corgill said she grew tired of trying to prove herself, prompting the veteran teacher to submit a letter of resignation after she said Birmingham and Alabama Department of Education officials recently told her that she was not qualified to teach fifth grade. In the letter obtained by Al.com (http://bit.ly/1MwE2zy), she cited confusion about her qualification being denied despite her well-documented accomplishments.
Corgill, the 2014-15 school year Teacher of the Year in Alabama, was also a 2015 National Teacher of the Year finalist.
"After 21 years of teaching in grades 1-6, I have no answers as to why this is a problem now, so instead of paying more fees, taking more tests and proving once again that I am qualified to teach, I am resigning," Corgill wrote.
Corgill said she started this school year at Oliver Elementary School teaching second grade. But shortly after the semester began, she was moved to a fifth-grade classroom.
Corgill has Class A and B certifications to teach primary school through third grade students, according to certification records provided by The Alabama Department of Education.
"The Alabama State Department of Education did not determine Ms. Corgill was not qualified," the department said in a release on Thursday. "However, when an inquiry was made, the department reported that her current teaching certificate covers primary grades through Grade 3. This does not carry with it a requirement for resignation."
But Corgill also holds National Board Certification to teach children ages 7-12, an age group that would include most fifth-graders. That certification is valid until November 2020, according to the National Board Certification directory.
Birmingham City Schools spokeswoman Chandra Temple said Thursday the district is working on the matter and had no further comment.
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