Tabitha Sadler’s work ethic leads to ‘Staff Member of the Year’ at Rainbow Elementary

MADISON – Her colleagues at Rainbow Elementary School have honored Tabitha Sadler as “Staff Member of the Year.”

“It meant so much to me to hear that I won ‘Staff Member of the Year,’ but it meant even more because of how I was told,” Sadler said. Rainbow Principal Quentin Turner met Dr. Ed Nichols, Madison City Schools Superintendent, and staff from Central Office in Rainbow’s front office to surprise Sadler with her award.

“It didn’t even hit me at that moment that I might have won. Dr. Nichols came over to speak as he always would when he comes to Rainbow. At that moment, my son, Brandon Sadler, came into the office; Brandon is a Rainbow fifth-grader,” she said.

“Dr. Nichols asked me who Brandon was and I told him that he is my son. Dr. Nichols then asked Brandon if he knew why they were at Rainbow. That’s when my son looked at me and said it was because I had won Staff Member of the Year. I can’t even tell you how much it meant to me that they included my son in that moment,” Sadler said.

Before working at Rainbow, Sadler worked as office manager at a retirement community for 14 years. In 2022, Rainbow hired Sadler as bookkeeper.

“My sister, Angela Mooney, is really who inspired and encouraged me to apply for a position with Madison City Schools. Angela taught French at Bob Jones High School. She worked with Madison City Schools for over 20 years before she passed away two years ago,” Sadler said.

Sadler was pleased to work at her children’s school. “I already knew that Madison City Schools was a wonderful school system to work for and get involved with. I was very thankful when I saw a position open up and it just happened to be at Rainbow,” Sadler said. “When I got the call offering me the position, I was so excited; each day has just confirmed that making the change to MCS was the right decision for my family.”

Tabitha and her husband, Chris Sadler, have been married 23 years. “We have three wonderful children. Our daughters, Addison and Kaitlyn, are twins and will be attending Bob Jones as freshmen. Our son Brandon, our youngest, will be in fifth grade.”

The Sadler family moved to Madison in 2018 from Harvest. Chris grew up in the Huntsville area. Tabitha’s family relocated here when her father was stationed at Redstone Arsenal; she was eight years old. When her father retired, the family stayed in the Madison/Huntsville area.

Tabitha was born in Belgium. “Both of my parents were in the Army and while they were stationed over in Belgium, they had me. I would love to go back and see the area as I was around two years old when my parents were stationed in Pennsylvania before coming to Alabama,” Tabitha said. Sadler is very grateful for her affiliation with MCS. “As I mentioned, my sister Angela Mooney taught French at Bob Jones. When my sister passed away, we had so much support from so many throughout the district but especially from the schools where her kids were attending: Bob Jones, Discovery and Rainbow,” Sadler said.

“Madison City Schools is truly a family. Not only have I personally experienced the love and support through the loss of my sister, but I’ve seen it time and time again where teachers and staff members come together to support these students and fellow colleagues through the good and the tough times,” Sadler said.

“Thank you to my Rainbow family for nominating and voting for me,” Sadler said. “You honor me, and I hope that I can support and encourage you as much.”