Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill
Dora High School teacher Teresa Bradford is retiring after 32 years in education. Teresa’s education journey began as a child growing up in Baldwin County, Alabama. Her father was a welding instructor, and his skills, smarts, and abilities to positively impact students inspired Teresa to make her own way in the education field.
While pursuing a degree in Secondary Career and Technical Education in college, Teresa visited Bevill State Community College to judge a career technical student competition. Here, she met Ted Craven, the principal of the Walker County Career Center of Technology (WCCT), who was looking for career technical instructors. As Teresa says, “The Lord just put us together.” Freshly graduated, Teresa became a first-year educator, moving to Walker County to teach Principles of Technology at WCCT.
For 16 years, Teresa taught at WCCT. Her passion for showing students how to build successful trade careers grew and matured, allowing her to build a stable career. However, after 16 years, it was time for a change.
“Career tech is my passion and background. I was a career tech student, and my dad and granddad taught it, so it’s in my blood. But after 16 years, I felt the Lord telling me it was time for a change,” says Teresa. “WCCT closed the program I was teaching, and God opened the door for me to go to Sumiton Middle School.”
Teresa welcomed the transition with open arms, excited to share her knowledge of science and hands-on experiments. She also began coaching girls’ sports, a change she was a bit more apprehensive about making, yet one she still fully welcomed.
In 2017, Teresa felt compelled to return to high school education and continued teaching science and coaching at Dora High School. “I have always tried to relate science to different careers and hopefully inspire these kids to pursue math and science-related careers because there is such a need for that. I’ve always preached to these kids that you do not have to have a four-year degree. I have helped them research career options and encouraged them to pursue their passions. The most important thing has always been that my students know their options,” says Teresa.
After 32 years, Teresa decided to retire to spend more time with her grandkids and mom and become more involved in her church; however, she is not leaving education behind. She plans to sponsor the DHS Robotics Team, train with the Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief Team, and enjoy the freedoms of retirement.
For Teresa, the past 32 years have been about more than teaching science. She has prepared and paved the way for students to be successful on their own terms. Reflecting on her career and retirement, it is evident that Teresa Bradford’s constant guidance and presence at Dora High School will be missed. WL
