Hartselle Educator Hall of Fame announces 2024 inductees

Special to the Enquirer 

The Hartselle Educator Hall of Fame (HEHOF) has announced its selections for the Class of 2024. The Educator Hall of Fame was established to honor individuals who have made a significant contribution to the education of students who have attended Hartselle schools. This year’s inductees are William Booth, Lane Hampton, Robin Hodges, Kim Peck and LeeAnne Pettey.   

William Booth, long time legendary baseball coach for the Hartselle Tigers, began his career in 1966 as a math teacher with Morgan County Schools. Booth is remembered as persistent in working with students who struggled with key concepts in math and worked with them individually until they mastered the skill he was trying to teach.  By 1980, Booth was on the path of being an administrator and coordinator by first serving as an assistant principal. He later served as a chapter I and chapter II coordinator, AP coordinator, transportation coordinator, director of school operations, Interim Superintendent and finally assistant superintendent. He began coaching baseball in 1986 and has had nine state championship teams, four state championship runner up teams and 21 area championship teams. With his 648th win in 2006, Booth became Alabama’s winningest high school baseball coach and continues to hold the title with 1,172 wins. Booth has been inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF), the Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame and the Decatur Daily’s 5A-7A Coach of the Year for the 17th time.  The ASHOF awarded Booth the 2023 Frank “Pig” House Award named after the ASHOF founder. In addition, the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association honored Booth with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award which will be renamed after Booth for future recipients. Booth retired with 58 years in education and continues to serve as head coach of the Hartselle Tigers with 36 years to his credit.   

Lane Hampton was a special education teacher who always sought ways to make sure her students achieved their ability.  For more than 46 years, Hampton was an advocate for the students she taught and a support for the teachers and administrators in the building.  She was in contact with the parents of her students and worked well with regular education classroom teachers to ensure her students succeeded.  She believed in her students and did everything she could to help them reach their potential.  Hampton’s career began in Starkville, Miss., in 1974, as a special education teacher.  Before landing in Hartselle in 1979, she worked for Fayette County Schools, Oneonta City Schools and Guntersville City Schools, all in Alabama.  Hampton became the first president of the Hartselle Academic Booster Club and was later recognized as Teacher of Year at Crestline Elementary.  Since 1981, Hampton has been a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society in addition to being a Sunday School teacher at West Hartselle Baptist Church.  Hampton is the perfect example of a caring, hard-working teacher who was constantly and consistently doing everything possible to provide what her students needed.   

Robin Hodges came to Hartselle City School in 1987 after working in Lawrence County Schools. In Hartselle she taught Biology, Honors Biology, AP Biology, Dual Enrollment Biology through Calhoun Community College, Anatomy & Physiology, Chemistry I, Honors Chemistry and Environmental Science.  Serving as science department chairperson for 13 years, she was also on the faculty leadership team, the state department committee for the development of state biology standards for the graduation exam and a member of the high school accreditation committee.  In addition, she was a Science Olympiad coach, scholars bowl coach and assistant varsity softball coach. Students on her science Olympiad teams were often regional champions and state runners-up along with numerous tournament championships in the Scholars Bowl.  As a softball coach, her players won three state championships and were runners-up on three occasions for state championships.  During Hodges’ 37 years of education, she has taught 14 different courses ranging from third grade gifted education to dual enrollment biology and physics.  Hodges is currently working at Whitesburg Christian Academy in Huntsville as a part time teacher. 

Kim Peck served Hartselle City Schools as a kindergarten teacher for six years and completed her career with 19 years as a first-grade teacher. Known as a caring and loving teacher, Peck was recognized many times for outstanding accomplishments that enhanced the learning atmosphere of not only her classroom but in helping F. E. Burleson school wide as a team member.  School wide recognition included her school being an AMSTI Math and Science School, a Blue Ribbon School, Green Ribbon School, STEM school and having an Alabama Certified Outdoor Classroom site. Peck was personally recognized with the Crystal Apple Award “Making a Difference” award for FEB and “Making a Difference” award for the Elementary District for Hartselle City Schools, and “Teacher of the Valley” Apple award for her caring and loving ways.  Peck was a well-respected teacher and was known for treating her coworkers with dignity and respect.  She is known for never raising her voice and for always disciplining children in fair and respectable ways, treating her students like she would want her own children to be treated.  Peck, in retirement, continues to follow, encourage and build up her students, even into their adult lives. 

LeeAnne Pettey began her career in education after working eleven years at BP Amoco.  She left to pursue her passion, special education. Pettey’s first year of teaching was at Cedar Ridge Middle School, in Decatur.  Before arriving at Hartselle Junior High School in 1997, she was the Director of Operation Home, an emergency shelter for abused and neglected children, and a foster parent for Morgan County Department of Human Resources.  At HJHS she taught sixth, seventh and eighth grade special education with a concentration in social studies and eventually became a reading specialist, the transition administrator at Hartselle High School and the system wide Special Education Coordinator for Hartselle City Schools. Pettey started the Tiger Buddies Club at the high school that matches a typical student with a special-needs student for extracurricular activities.  She also began Signs of Courage where special needs students used sign language in performances to interpret inspirational songs.  She has also been recognized as Teacher of the Year in 2000 for ARC of Morgan County, Teacher of the Year in 2004 for Morgan County VFW, and Advocate of the Year in 2012 for the Governor’s Council on Employment of Individuals with Disabilities.  Spanning several years, she volunteered for Shining Stars, a sports league for individuals with disabilities; Tim Tebow Night to Shine, a prom for people with disabilities; as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) by Cullman County Department of Human Resources who care for abused and neglected children and families that have been separated; and CAST for Kids Tournament at Smith Lake for children with special needs.  

These educators will be inducted into the HEHOF on February 24, 2024, at the eighth annual Hall of Fame Banquet at the Ministry Center at First Methodist Church of Hartselle. A time to meet and congratulate the inductees will begin at 5:15 p.m. followed by the banquet at 6 p.m.  Tickets are available at a cost of $35 each and may be purchased at the Hartselle City Schools Central Office or online at www.hartselletigers.org.   All profits from the banquet will be equally divided between the Hartselle Scholarship Foundation and the Morgan County Task Force.  

The public is invited to attend and honor this group of educators who spent many years shaping the lives of Hartselle students.