Derrick Hester, a math teacher at Demopolis Middle School, was named the DMS Teacher of the Year, selected by his fellow teachers at the school.

Hester teaches eighth-grade algebra and pre-algebra and seventh-grade pre-algebra. He was recently hired to teach a night class at the University of West Alabama.

“It feels really good. I was really proud,” Hester said of earning the award. “It was a great honor.”

“Mr. Hester is a very energetic math teacher,” said DMS principal Clarence Jackson Jr. “It’s hard to get kids motivated about math, and usually, that’s going to be the first B, C or D. He makes it interesting. He’s probably the top tutor in Marengo County right now.

“He just finished his master’s degree, and he was just hired to teach a night class at the University of West Alabama. That kind of tells you his qualifications. But, just getting kids excited about math where they understand it is something. People can teach, but to get it over to the kids and get them to understand it is another thing altogether. He has a gift for it.”