South Alumna Named 2026-2027 Alabama Teacher of the Year
Posted on June 2, 2026
There was a time when Elizabeth Von Hofe told her father, a career educator, that she would never follow in his footsteps. For a long time, she kept her word, spending more than a decade building a successful trajectory in business and healthcare administration.
But deep, meaningful callings have a way of disrupting even the most established plans.
Five years after stepping into a public school classroom as a teacher, Von Hofe, a University of South Alabama alumna, has been named the 2026-2027 Alabama Teacher of the Year, the highest honor awarded to an educator in the state, positioning her as the primary ambassador for Alabama's public school system and its representative in the National Teacher of the Year program.
For Von Hofe, who teaches collaborative special education at Spanish Fort Elementary School, it’s a testament to the power of second chances, lifelong learning and the academic pathways offered by South's College of Education and Professional Studies.
“I was just a mom that decided I loved the school system, and it motivated me enough at 42 to go back to school,” Von Hofe said.
While she had excelled in healthcare management, working in pediatric and geriatric rehabilitation, long-term care and hospice administration, her perspective shifted as she saw the education system through a different lens: motherhood.
Her involvement in the PTA led to opportunities as a substitute teacher, which in turn led to a role as a paraprofessional. Immersed daily in the school environment, Von Hofe found that her clinical background aligned perfectly with a new passion for supporting exceptional learners. Her extensive exposure to physical, occupational and speech therapists in healthcare gave her a distinct clinical understanding of childhood development and disabilities, which she realized could be applied to instruction.
She chose collaborative special education to advocate for students who are frequently overlooked or misunderstood. "These kids have my heart," Von Hofe said.
Transitioning from corporate executive to classroom teacher while raising a family was no small feat. At 42, Von Hofe turned to the University of South Alabama's Alternative Certification Pathway, an innovative master’s of education program that’s designed for professionals who hold non-education bachelor's degrees but wish to pivot into teaching.
“I would not be a teacher without the University of South Alabama and the Alternative Certification Program," she said.
South’s online asynchronous curriculum allowed Van Hofe to balance coursework with family life and daily obligations in the school system, but it was the human element of the University that left the greatest impact.
She felt personally supported by the faculty from day one. Professors knew her by name, recognized her unique clinical and business strengths and actively encouraged her professional growth.
Von Hofe also drew inspiration from PASSAGE USA (Preparing All Students Socially and Academically for Gainful Employment), a certificate program at South that offers non-degree-seeking students with intellectual disabilities a college experience and independent living skills. Seeing South’s campus-wide commitment to inclusion beyond high school strengthened Von Hofe's own philosophy of advocacy.
As a National Board Certified Teacher, she is known for her commitment to supporting students with disabilities and creating meaningful opportunities for them inside and outside the classroom.
“Elizabeth’s journey reflects the dedication, compassion and commitment to service that define our graduates,” said Dr. Angela Barlow, dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies. “We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and the difference she is making in the lives of students, families and schools across Alabama.”
