DAPHNE, Ala. —For more than a month, the Daphne Optimist Club has been planning a teacher-appreciation event, and member Ben Spencer said the event is almost a sure thing.

Club members have been meeting with local residents to hammer out a viable plan for an event where each school’s teachers of the year can be honored for their achievements and dedication to young people’s education.

“We are trying to shine a bright light on outstanding kids. This teacher of the year is a byproduct of that. Bringing out the best in kids is our focus,” Spencer said.

Spencer said the club felt it was especially important to step in this year to host and fund the event.

“We found out that because of the funding shortages, public schools were not able to have an event to honor their teachers of the year. We thought that was very important. I think it is worthy of holding them up for the entire Eastern Shore to see,” Spencer said.

Spencer said the club feels teachers deserve to be recognized for all of their hard work.

“We just think that the community needs to focus more on the schools, the teachers and the students,” Spencer said.

The Daphne Optimist Club will honor 19 teachers from public and private schools in Daphne, Spanish Fort and Fairhope.

Spencer said all of the schools will select one teacher to be its teacher of the year. During the reception and dinner planned by the Daphne Optimist Club, each teacher will be presented a framed letter from his or her school, which will explain what qualities the teacher possesses that make them extraordinary educators.

“We are giving a gift to each of the teachers of the year. We are getting letters from the school to tell why this person is teacher of the year. The sponsor will read the letter covering the particulars of how they got to be teacher of the year,” Spencer said.

Since the idea first came into being, Spencer said the plans have come a long way.

“We are making really good progress,” he said.

The event is set for 6:30 p.m. May 3 at the Community Life Center at the Daphne United Methodist Church, Spencer said.

The event will include the national anthem sung by Rebecca Womack, who sang the national anthem at the Senior Bowl this year. The Dogwood Trail Maids will be at the event.

Tickets for the event cost $20. “Everyone is buying their own tickets except the honorees, and the Optimist Club is giving two tickets to each one of them,” Spencer said.

To purchase a ticket or to contribute, contact the Daphne Optimist Club at daphneoptimist@gmail.com.