When Savannah Fisher was a busy undergraduate on the campus of The University of Alabama, she knew she’d soon be pursuing an MA in Elementary Education. When she was ready, UA Online was the opportunity she needed to move ahead.
You might have already seen Savannah even if you didn’t catch her name. She is effusively charming and funny, engaging and relevant, characteristics evident by the reach of her TikTok videos. A fifth grade teacher in her hometown of Pelham, Alabama, Savannah is dedicated to growing her students’ enthusiasm for learning and often shares her out-of-the-box lessons, sometimes in costume, on the platform.
While her inquiry-based lessons are fun, Savannah is focused on encouraging her students’ inquisitiveness about the world they live in and who shaped it before them, “which fosters good conversations that get to the root of why it all matters.”
Savannah is always thinking at least two steps ahead, an ability that has served her well on the field with the Million Dollar Band Color Guard and in her field as she takes advantage of new opportunities.
As her first graduation from UA neared in 2018, Savannah spoke with one of her coaches about her plans for graduate school — to follow in her dad’s footsteps to attend the University of Kentucky. The coach’s spouse was an experienced principal and advised Savannah to gain a few years of classroom experience before committing to her master’s degree.
Following the advice, Savannah returned home for a position teaching first grade, planning to eventually specialize in science and social studies in the upper grades.
“I really wanted to move into fifth grade due to an empowering experience I had through my college internship. When a departmental position for science and social studies opened at my school, I asked my principal to consider me for the role. At the time, she said it was difficult for her to see me outside first grade. This encouraged me to prove I was serious about moving into a different teaching role — my dream job. I knew continuing my education and acquiring specializations in science and social studies would help prove to my administrators that I was qualified for the position.”
That’s when she returned to her plan for earning a master’s degree, enrolling through UA Online in Fall 2022.
“I researched my options and really wanted to honor my dad’s alma mater. I ultimately chose UA because the tuition was in my price range, the professors were great and the program offered specializations in the subjects I’m passionate about teaching.”
Savannah is quick to credit her professors for her success, particularly Drs. Thomas and Fowler.
“My professors took time to build relationships with us. They really invested in us and wanted to empower us as both students and teachers. From them, I learned to make everything student-centered and focused on the ‘why,’ so everything feels personalized and cultivated for every student. My professors modeled this for me at the collegiate level, equipping me to make learning meaningful and impactful for the students in my classroom. A lot of that starts with getting to know your students.”
In Spring 2024, Savannah crossed the stage for her Master of Arts in Elementary Education with specializations in science, social studies and math.
“With this graduate degree, I gained exposure to more knowledge, research and trends uniquely enhanced by the network of professors and classmates I collaborated with — all backed by research and experience. I’ve earned my place teaching fifth grade science and social studies. If I ever want to move out of the classroom, I look forward to using these specialties through other avenues. My degree and experience qualify me to serve as an education specialist in a museum, zoo or other learning-adjacent entity in the future.”
She’s not ready to step away from her classroom yet though. This award-winning teacher was named the Shelby County Chamber’s 2024–2025 Elementary Educator of the Year. Savannah’s next goal is just on the horizon as she works toward achieving National Board Certification for Teachers in Social Studies for Early Adolescence, the “gold standard in teacher certification.”
Master your next move with The University of Alabama Online. Visit online.ua.edu.
