Eliza Lemus Aybar makes full circle as Columbia Elementary’s top teacher

MADISON – Eliza Lemus Aybar is proud of her classroom’s learning environment with a high-challenge, low-threat space. She is “Teacher of the Year” at Columbia Elementary School.

Receiving the award caused her “to pause and reflect on how fortunate I am to be part of a school where there’s so much collaboration, support and care for students. Being named Teacher of the Year is a tremendous honor — one that I don’t take lightly.”

Her first experience with MCS was as a student at James Clemens High School. In college, she returned as a student teacher for third grade at Columbia Elementary School. “Both experiences left a lasting impression on me and helped shape my connection to this community,” Aybar said.

“I was thankful to join the Columbia family and begin my teaching career here,” she said. For five years, she taught fourth-grade math and science, building students’ confidence in problem-solving and hands-on learning. Currently, she teaches Spanish to grades K-5, Small Learning Community classes and pre-kindergarten at other schools.

She has worked in Sustained Tutoring and teaches math for grades 4-5 in Madison City Schools’ Summer Reading and Math Program.

“I wanted to work with MCS because it already felt like home,” Aybar said. “What has always stood out to me about MCS is the strong sense of community, collaboration and high expectations, along with a genuine focus on what is best for students. Columbia is a place where students feel known, supported and encouraged to grow both academically and personally.”

“It was not just about finding a job . . . it was about being part of a district where I could grow as a teacher, give back to the community that invested in me and make a meaningful impact on students and families,” Aybar said. She want students to understand that mistakes are essential in learning.

Raised in Guatemala City, Guatemala, she moved to the United States at 17. “Growing up in Guatemala and later adjusting to life in Alabama have played a significant role in shaping who I am and my approach to teaching,” Aybar said.

“A deeply personal source of pride is my own journey as an educator. Becoming an educator in MCS remains one of my most meaningful accomplishments,” Aybar said.

At day’s end, Aybar feels assured when students are willing to take risks, engage in learning and leave the classroom more confident. “Success isn’t always about perfection but about progress and participation,” she said.

She knows a situation has worked well “when students who were once hesitant begin using Spanish more naturally . . . greeting me in the hallway, participating in class or showing excitement. Those moments of connection reassure me.”

Most of all, she hopes students leave her classroom feeling confident, valued and unafraid to take risks. “If I can help students feel seen, supported and excited to learn, I’m making the kind of impact that truly matters.”

Graduating summa cum laude at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Aybar earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She also holds an Alabama Teaching Certificate in Spanish (K–12).

Her two-year-old son Santiago “is very active, loves being outdoors and keeps me on my toes. My greatest joys are watching him grow, creating special memories and experiencing the world around him,” she said.

“As a family, we enjoy traveling, having quality family time, camping and spending time outdoors whenever we get the chance,” she said. “Some of our favorite memories have been made at the beach, in the mountains and on the road together.”

Few people realize how much she enjoys RV camping and traveling. “When we’re not at school, we’re usually on the road,” Aybar said.

“I love spending time with my parents and siblings. Family is a very important part of my life,” she said.

“It’s especially meaningful to now serve in the same district that invested in me as a student and (allowed me) to grow into the educator I am today. That full-circle experience is something I carry with me every day in the classroom,” Eliza Lemus Aybar said.