Terry Franklin, coach and gym teacher in Alcona Community Schools, left, is seen receiving his Teacher of the Month award from Charlene Miller, Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union (AAACU) Tiger Branch supervisor, right.

In September, Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union (AAACU) announced their new Teacher of the Month recognition program, according to an AAACU press release. Each month, members of the community can nominate a teacher that has had a positive impact on their students for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card and a gift of credit union swag.

AAACU states they received 85 nominations in the first month of the program. At the beginning of October, the first teacher was drawn from the nominations, and Terry Franklin, of Alcona Community Schools, was selected as the first AAACU Teacher of the Month. Community members recognized Franklin’s dedication in coaching, teaching proper weightlifting techniques, providing compassionate wisdom and advice, and always showing up with kindness.

AAACU invites community members to continue to nominate teachers as the pool of nominees resets each month. Teachers are eligible for nomination if they teach in Alpena, Alcona, Cheboygan, Emmet, Iosco, Montmorency, or Presque Isle counties. For more information and to submit a nomination visit aaacu.com/learn/teacher-of-the-month.