Alabamians remembering the 9/11 attacks should turn their TVs to the CBS Evening News on the eve of 9/11.

The Wednesday 5:30 p.m. edition will feature a teacher from Sylacauga High School teaching students about the 9/11 attacks, what happened, and how it affects our nation.

Chris Theilacker teaches Advanced Placement Psychology at Sylacauga High, sometimes along with world history, American government, economics and AP government and politics.

All of those subjects have to do with the 9/11 attacks on the United States and the lingering effects on America and Americans.

How did a teacher in a 12,000-resident Alabama town become the focus on the eve of Patriots Day? Theilacker took a course himself. This summer, while others had their summer break, Theilacker went to class in New York City, site of the largest of the 9/11 attacks. He attended the ‘9/11 Memorial and Museum Institute for Educators.’ He passed the course and is passing the information on to his students in Alabama.

At the institute, a news reporter from CBS talked with Mr. Theilacker. This week, the reporter came to Alabama and followed Theilacker as he taught about the events of 9/11. He showed videos of first-person accounts that he had gained from his participation in the Institute.

Theilacker also serves as Youth Pastor for First Baptist Church of Sylacauga. He serves in the Alabama National Guard. He is a graduate of Alabama’s Marion Military Institute.

Sounds like they picked the right teacher for this mentoring role.

Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at [email protected]