Hueytown Middle School teacher awarded $1,000 through ‘One Class at a Time’

One Class at a Time presented by Chick-fil-A of Birmingham.

For 22 years, CBS 42 has been proud to present local teachers with $1,000 grants through its One Class at a Time program, honoring the educators who work tirelessly to make a positive impact on the children of Central Alabama.

This week, CBS 42 Meteorologist Alex Puckett, the Chick-fil-A cow and Chick-fil-A of Birmingham representatives set out to Hueytown Middle School in Hueytown, Ala. to honor one such educator, Andrew Poe, the Band Director for grades sixth through eighth.

Passionate about helping students find their unique voice through music, Poe plans to use his One Class grant to complete renovations in the band room that will improve sound quality.

“The plan is to get some sound barriers up on the walls,” said Poe. “We just want to try and make it a bit deader of a sound, just so we can save our ears.”

A teacher in Hueytown for 14 years, five of which were spent at Hueytown High School before starting at the middle school, Poe loves being part of building the foundation that will propel his young musicians as they enter high school band.

“This is the first time that many of them have even looked at an instrument,” said Poe. “To go from that to watching where they go beyond– in high school, college and even higher– is absolutely incredible.”

To nominate a local teacher for CBS 42’s One Class at a Time grant, apply here .

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