For Neelyville Elementary educator LaMonica Moore, a love of teaching started when she was 15-years-old and teaching Sunday school.
However, that love developed more in college when she observed a class.
“There was a little boy and I pulled him to the back to try and help him,” she said. “I noticed he struggled and needed a lot of help. Working with that little boy, I changed my major to a double major. So I graduated with (degrees) in elementary ed and special ed.”
The Neelyville R-IV School District recently named Moore as Teacher of the Year for Neelyville Elementary School.
“It is a true honor and a blessing,” she said. “That people actually nominated me and voted for me makes me feel good.”
The district also named the following Teachers of the Year by campus: Madison Shearer, Neelyville Junior High School; Tammy Maloy, Hillview Elementary; and Jessica Newcomb as Neelyville High School, as well as district Teacher of the Year.
Moore has been teaching with the district for 28 years in various grades from second to sixth grade as well as special education. Currently, she teaches title math for third through sixth grade.
Through title math, she works with students who need a little extra attention to grasp the concepts.
Moore said she’s always been a fan of hands-on learning through crafts and activities.
“Like in second grade, we would always make a paper mache globe, because we had to learn the continents and the oceans,” she said. “We also would study about the Native Americans and so around Thanksgiving time, we would have a big feast and do flapjacks. They learned flapjacks for pancakes.
“Since I’ve been teaching math, I like to incorporate a lot of manipulative (activities), where they can touch it and see it. It’s not just paper, pencil kind of thing.”
Moore’s daughter, Amanda, is planning to be a teacher as well. While she said it doesn’t feel like it’s following in her footsteps, seeing Amanda on the education track feels good.
“She’s got a lot of patience, good personality, just an all around easy going kind of person that’s always willing to lend a helping hand,” Moore said. “It makes me feel good that she’s going to be able to help kids like I’ve helped kids.”
Outside of the classroom, Moore’s been married to Jason Moore for 20 years. They have their daughter, Amanda, and a son, Ryan.
Moore’s also heavily involved in church and enjoys attending her kid’s ball games.
“Any kind of activities my kids are involved in, I’m right there all the time,” she said. “That is a real good advantage to teaching, you are able to be highly involved with your kids’ functions for the most part.”