MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Walking a tightrope is an activity most professionals attempt from time to time, but it’s a skill that teachers employ each day in the classroom. Fortunately for Robertsdale High School gifted education teacher Cynthia Erickson, this month’s winner in the Alfa Teacher of the Month program, finding a healthy balance between maintaining classroom discipline and student autonomy is just another mastered talent.

The ability to educate and encourage students of all backgrounds helped Erickson earn her designation as December’s Teacher of the Month. As this month’s winner, she will receive $1,000 from Alfa Insurance. Her school, a division of the Baldwin County Board of Education, will receive a matching award from the Alabama Farmers Federation.

“Most teachers don’t plan ahead well enough and can’t intuitively determine how to navigate that tightrope cleanly,” said fellow Robertsdale High teacher Angela Springer, “but Dr. Erickson proceeds effortlessly and with great aplomb.”

With an education background that spans nearly three decades, Erickson has dealt with challenges that arise from teaching students with emotional conflict, specific learning disabilities and gifted education needs. Though some educators might be overwhelmed by these hurdles, Erickson says she hopes to be a change agent for students, helping them realize they can be successful regardless of their unique circumstances.

“One program I am excited about is our Peer Helper’s prevention program, ‘Stop the Drop,’” said Erickson. “This is a student-centered dropout prevention program where the students run small support groups for at-risk students. My hope is to expand this program countywide and possibly statewide.”

After witnessing first-hand the positive impact the program had on several members of the student body, Springer values the importance of Erickson’s unwavering support of all students, specifically those involved with the prevention program.

“What is really commendable is Dr. Erickson’s ability to create and implement this curriculum,” said Springer. “Each week, she instructs the students about how to conduct the support group by providing them with a lesson plan, which students are able to tweak based on the situation, implementing the plan as needed.”

Erickson earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Alabama; a master’s degree in learning disabilities from the University of South Alabama; and a doctorate of education in curriculum and instruction from the University of West Florida. Currently developing curriculum for Peer Helpers’ classrooms, Erickson achieved national certification from the National Association of Peer Professionals.

During 2011, Alfa Insurance and the Alabama Farmers Federation honored one outstanding teacher from each of Alabama’s eight state board districts, two principals and two private school teachers.