Foley Intermediate School announced Amy Wheaton its 2010 Teacher of the Year.

Wheaton has taught in Baldwin County for 25 years, 18 of which were at Foley Intermediate. She has lived in Magnolia Springs most of her life, graduating from Foley High School. She teaches fifth-grade girls at the school.

“I like the age,” she said.

She received an undergraduate degree and master’s degree from the University of South Alabama in elementary education. She has a husband and a son.

The Foley Onlooker sat down with Wheaton to discuss her favorite part about teaching, whether she would want to teach other grades besides fifth and other topics.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a teacher?

A: Seeing growth in kids. Seeing their growth from the first day they walk through my door to the last day.

Q: What is your least favorite thing about being a teacher?

A: I would say when there are kids who don’t want to learn. When they are not interested in learning and they just waste time, even wasting the time of kids who are interested.

Q: Are there any other grades that you’d want to teach besides fifth grade?

A: I’m certified to teach middle school. I’d love to teach just one subject. I love teaching math.

Q: Through the 25 years of teaching, what have you learned the most about yourself or others?

A: Tolerance. I’ve learned that not everybody is the same. Not everybody learns the same. Not everybody comes from the same environment. You have to be tolerant and understanding of that and realize everybody’s life is different.

Q: How much time outside of the classroom do you spend on your job?

A: I never go home before 6 p.m. I don’t have to do as much work at home, but I stay until 6 p.m. And I get here at 7 a.m. or 7:30 a.m.

Q: Do you ever thing about retiring?

A: I actually could retire, but I can’t afford it for one thing because my son is in college. I would like to. Things have changed. Some of the things that have changed I like and some I don’t like. Everything is about testing now and I don’t like that. It’s taking some of the fun out of teaching and it’s taking the fun out of learning. Everything is about testing. If it’s not on the test, you’re not supposed to talk about it. There’s things that kids are interested in and they want to learn about it.

Q: How much do you enjoy the months of June, July and August?

A: Well, I enjoy them a lot. I do a lot of stuff during the summer. I come up here. I do a little bit at a time.