Lanett High School names its Teachers of the Year

BY MICHELLE KEY

PUBLISHER

LANETT — Lanett City Schools recently named its Teachers of the Year. Jasmine Holloway-Pate represents Lanett High School; Erical Barrow is the Middle School honoree and Claire Smith is the elementary school teacher of the year.

Lanett High School Names Jasmine Holloway-Pate as Teacher of the Year

Jasmine Holloway-Pate is a passionate educator, community leader and mentor who said she strives to be the light she once needed as a high school student. She is married to Kelcius Pate, and together they are the proud parents of three children: Jordan Scott, Karter Pate and Kaleb Pate.

A 2007 graduate of Valley High School, Holloway-Pate went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in health education from Alabama State University. She has served in education for more than seven years, impacting students across multiple communities. Her experience includes teaching at Lanier High School, working as a 4-H educator with Auburn University and serving as a prevention educator with the Family Science Center in Montgomery.

Outside the classroom, she owns Jazzy Magnolia All-Stars, where she said she uses athletics, discipline and mentorship to encourage and empower young people. Whether teaching in schools, leading community programs or coaching in her gym, her commitment to uplifting youth remains at the heart of her work.

Her classroom philosophy is grounded in service.

“Be all you can, for whom you can, for as long as you can be it,” she said.

She said she strives to show up fully for her students each day, offering the encouragement, guidance and consistency she once longed for herself.

“I am far too great to be the only thing standing in my way,” she said is her personal motto.

“With every lesson, opportunity and interaction, Jasmine Holloway-Pate gives her absolute best — because excellence, service and purpose guide everything she does,” according to a statement posted on the school’s Facebook page.

Junior High School Names Erical Barrow Teacher of the Year

Lanett Junior High School recently recognized Erical Barrow as its 2024–25 Teacher of the Year. A devoted educator with 24 years of experience as both a school counselor and mathematics teacher, Barrow has built her career on a foundation of academic excellence, student advocacy and compassionate leadership.

Barrow is a graduate of Alabama State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in mathematics education. She later expanded her service to students by completing a master’s degree in school counseling from the University of West Alabama.

Throughout her career, she has taught mathematics at every level — from college courses to seventh grade — bringing clarity, rigor and confidence to thousands of learners. Her work has spanned several Alabama districts, including Jefferson County, Macon County, Chambers County and Mobile County, before finding what she calls her “final and beloved educational home” at Lanett City Schools.

Barrow’s passion for Christ and her heart for helping others guide both her professional work and personal life. She is also the proud mother of Erical Johnson, who continues the family’s educational legacy as a mathematics teacher in Georgia.

She said she wants her personal motto to reflect her commitment to lifelong learning and growth.

“To live is to learn, to learn is to experience and to experience is life,” she said.

W.O. Lance Elementary Names Claire Smith Teacher of the Year

Claire Smith, a LaFayette native and graduate of Valley High School, went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Auburn University. She joined W.O. Lance Elementary in 2023 as a fifth-grade teacher and now teaches third grade, where she is deeply committed to the students, families and community she serves.

A student-centered educator, Smith said she believes learning should be meaningful, engaging and rooted in hands-on experiences. She is dedicated to creating a classroom environment where every child feels valued and has equitable opportunities to reach their fullest potential.

Her passion for teaching continues to grow each year, and she remains steadfast in her mission to empower students academically, socially and emotionally.