The Nick’s Kids Foundation hosted its annual Teacher Excellence Awards Luncheon on December 3 at the Tuscaloosa River Market, recognizing 70 educators from across West Alabama.
Teachers were selected by their principals for demonstrating exceptional commitment and performance throughout the school year. This year’s honorees represent Tuscaloosa City and County Schools, along with schools in Fayette, Pickens, Greene, Sumter, Hale, and Perry counties.
The event opened with a performance by the RISE School Bell Choir, a group representing the nationally recognized University of Alabama RISE Program, which serves young children with varying abilities through an inclusive early childhood education model. Their performance set an uplifting tone as educators, community leaders, and partners gathered to celebrate the impact of teaching.
Nick’s Kids Foundation Executive Director Katie King welcomed attendees and expressed gratitude for the educators serving children across the region. “We want to thank you for your commitment to education in Tuscaloosa and across our western Alabama counties,” she said.
King also emphasized the foundation’s long-standing investment in schools and families, noting that Nick’s Kids has partnered with Nick and Terry Saban to distribute more than $16 million statewide.
A significant moment of the program was the presentation of the inaugural Nick’s Kids Distinguished Service in Education Award to Dr. Mike Daria, superintendent of Tuscaloosa City Schools. Reflecting on his more than three decades in education, Dr. Daria said, “It is hard to accept an honor of this magnitude for simply doing what I have loved for 31 years in Tuscaloosa.” He thanked his family and praised local educators, calling their dedication “the heartbeat of Tuscaloosa City Schools.”
Former Alabama head football coach Nick Saban addressed the crowd by speaking directly to the influence of teachers. “Teaching is the ability to inspire learning,” he said. “You help students develop habits that shape their future, and we appreciate that more than you know.”
Saban added that while the football championships mattered, the deeper purpose of his own career was never about wins: “It wasn’t about how many games, it was about how many lives we changed.”
Terry Saban congratulated her fellow educators and encouraged the honorees to take pride in their recognition. “When you leave today, you’ll take with you a framed certificate that Nick and I signed, and I hope you’ll hang it proudly in your classroom,” she said.
Miss Terry also shared that educators will be recognized on the field at an Alabama football game next season.
University of Alabama President Dr. Peter J. Mohler emphasized the lasting impact teachers have on students long before they reach college. “Teaching is one of the rare roles where your daily work becomes someone else’s launching point,” he said.
Mohler noted Alabama’s current teacher shortages and affirmed UA’s role in helping strengthen the pipeline through training, mentoring, and partnerships with local schools.
The luncheon included a progress update on the Saban Center, delivered by Executive Director Audrey Buck, who highlighted construction milestones and upcoming interactive learning spaces. Buck noted that the Saban Center is designed as a first-of-its-kind STEM and arts campus, bringing together education, experience, and innovation through partnerships with the Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre, IGNITE, and statewide public–private educational partners. When complete, the Saban Center will serve as a hub for teacher training, arts participation, STEM discovery, and academic support for both educators and families. The 115,000-square-foot campus remains on schedule for a late 2027 opening.
Since its founding, the Nick’s Kids Foundation has supported hundreds of organizations and community projects. The Teacher Excellence Awards program alone has now recognized more than 800 educators across the region.
The event closed with individual recognition of this year’s 70 honorees, underscoring the foundation’s ongoing commitment to uplifting educators and strengthening communities across Alabama. TG
To learn more about the Nick’s Kids Foundation, visit nickskidsfoundation.org
To learn more about The Saban Center, visit sabancenter.org
To learn more about the University of Alabama RISE Program, visit risecenter.ua.edu
Photos by Jenny Lynn Davis
