Growing up in a large family, Stacey Humes was well suited to become a teacher. She has expanded her training by completing rigorous requirements to become a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT).

“I became a teacher because I genuinely enjoy working with kids,” Humes said. “Coming from a family with lots of small children, I was always given the ‘daycare duty’ at family gatherings. Instead of running wild, we played school.”

Humes’ first teaching assignment was at Cedar Ridge Middle School in Decatur as seventh-grade language arts teacher for four years. She worked as an adjunct writing instructor for Alabama A&M University from 1999-2009.

With Madison City Schools, she has taught for eight years. She teaches eighth-grade language arts at Discovery Middle School.

Humes grew up in East Cleveland, Ohio and attended Shaw High School. At Alabama A& M University, she earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in secondary education.

“In my 12 years of teaching, I have several students that I’ll always remember. The ones who stand out the most are the ones who taught me something,” Humes said.

That ‘teaching’ may have been a lesson in technology, which Humes says is not her strength, or “how ‘not’ to discipline a student, or how to look at something from a different perspective. These students left an indelible mark on me and my professional growth.”

Humes feels “extremely optimistic” about education within Madison City Schools, especially considering accomplishments like National Merit finalists, Presidential Scholars and 6A state championships. “That tells me that we’re doing something right here. The only thing that concerns me about Madison City Schools is the possibility that one day students won’t need me.”

Her students often amaze her with their achievements in and out of the classroom. “Here at Discovery, we place special emphasis on all three components — curriculum, people and extracurricular,” Humes said.

“We have outstanding teachers, seasoned and novice, who are masters of their craft and top-notch students who are intelligent and gifted in various ways,” she said.

Humes is married and has two children.