ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Christy Whitney of Foley has been a teacher for seven years. She decided to go back to graduate school at the University of South Alabama. She expects to graduate in May of this year. Today, she’s a fourth-grade teacher at Robertsdale Elementary School.

Much to her surprise, she won the Graduate "Student of the Year" award for the College of Education at USA, from her instructors at the university.

It’s a big honor to be chosen as a top student by your professors.

But, this isn’t the first time a teacher from RES has been honored.

Last year, Barbara Middleton, a first grade teacher at RES earned the same award. Both teachers are working to become reading specialists.

“We had classes together in grad school,” said Middleton. “There is a spirit of excellence at this school.”

Middleton, however, was busy with her own daughter’s graduation and transition to college, so she missed her award ceremony.

Having two teachers from the same school win the same award two years in a row is an impressive feat. The award is given to teachers of reading, one of the most basic skills a young student has to master. Award winners exhibit a great deal of commitment as students and as teachers.

“They won because they are both intelligent and hardworking,” said Charles Downey, the school’s principal.

While in school, both women, Downey says, came up with new approaches to the art of teaching.

“They are open to new ideas and new methods of instruction,” said Downey. They bring that knowledge back to the classroom.”

Often, Downey says, the women would ask to apply something they had learned at RES.

“They would come and ask if they could try some now thing,” Downey said. “I would ask them to tell me about it, and after some discussion, would approve it if it was going to help children.”

Both women enjoy teaching.

I love watching kids light up and learn,” said Whitney.

“I love my job,” said Middleton, adding that she had worked at USA as a medical auditor.

“I love coming to work,” said Middleton. “I love the smell of crayons.”

And giving up night and summers to earn an advanced degree is worth it.

“You do it for the kids,” said Whitney.

Both women have seen students struggle.

“They don’t have a reading foundation,” said Middleton. “The parents are doing the best they can.”

Still, there are some things parents and other caregivers can help work on.

“Basic sight words are so important,” said Middleton, explaining that these are words like “the,” are” and others a student just has to know instead of sounding out.

The reasons children don’t do well at reading are varied.

“Different children struggle with different things,” Middleton said.

And while it’s hard, both women say it’s worth it.

“You do it for the kids,” said Whitney.