Lori West

Morgan County Elementary School third grade language arts and social studies first-year teacher Lori West’s greatest fear for the first day of school is that something will prevent her from being at school on time – whether it be car troubles or her penchant for hitting the snooze button on her alarm clock.

“It would be my luck to get a flat tire or have my car not start,” she said in an interview Monday.

She even went out and bought a second, battery-powered alarm clock so she would have a back up to ensure she wakes bright and early at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning for the first day of school.

West herself is a graduate of Morgan County schools and is looking forward to the mentorship and guidance of some of the very teachers who taught her in school or who she got to know while she student-taught at the school.

“I like being able to see so many familiar faces and being able to look up to them,” West said.

“I can’t think of a better student to turn into a teacher,” said Citizen photographer Angelina Bellebuono of West, who she taught during her 10-year stint as a Morgan County teacher.