St. Clair County native Dr. Gay Barnes, named Alabama Teacher of the Year last May has been chosen as one of the four finalists for the National Teacher of the Year Award.

A first grade teacher at Horizon Elementary, Barnes has 21 years of experience as an educator.  Barnes is currently taking a year off from teaching to travel around the state as Alabama’s teacher of the year.

The national award will be presented at the White House in April.  If Barnes wins the award she will spend the year traveling across the United States as the top teacher.

When Barnes resided in St. Clair County, she participated in the local 4-H club for many years.

Barnes has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, a master’s from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a doctorate from Alabama A&M University.