For the past three years, Scottsboro Mayor Jim McCamy has presented the Mayor’s Award to a deserving community member. This year’s recipient was Scottsboro High School English teacher Betty Esslinger.
McCamy said Esslinger has been a lifelong resident of Scottsboro and was a graduate of Scottsboro High School.
“Our recipient always wanted to be a teacher, and I remember that career starting as a swimming and Junior Lifesaving Instructor for many of us growing up here,” McCamy said.
McCamy said after earning a degree in education, Esslinger returned to Scottsboro and began her career as a teacher, a mentor and a pioneer in young women’s sports by promoting opportunities that were not typically recognized at that time.
He added, that Esslinger has been marred to her husband John for 53 years and they have two sons and two grandsons.
McCamy presented Esslinger with the award after his State of the City address on Tuesday, April 9, saying, “For her extraordinary leadership, dedication, guidance, instruction and pioneering spirit throughout her years of service to students in the City of Scottsboro school system since 1971.”
An emotional Esslinger accepted the award, and said, “I don’t even know what to say. All I’ve ever wanted to be is a good teacher. I know I have taught many of you. I have really been blessed to have had such a great career, and to have had such great people in my life.”
