Faculty from school districts across the Poplar Bluff area gathered on Thursday night for a big reveal: out of six candidates, the 2023 District Teacher of the Year award was presented to Christy Smith of the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center.
Smith was shocked to receive the award from the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, and she was honored to be chosen from among “so many great teachers.”
“It means a lot because it comes from people who do what I do, and put their hearts into teaching just like I try to do every day,” she said.
The Chamber and Poplar Bluff School District collaborated to film video interviews with each of the finalists, who were chosen from educators across the Poplar Bluff area. This included Three Rivers College and Westwood Baptist Academy.
During her interview, Smith explained she has almost three decades teaching of teaching experience. She spent 22 years at Clearwater Elementary School before moving to the kindergarten center, where she is now in her sixth year. Her favorite thing about kindergarten is watching students have “light bulb moments” when a new skill clicks, and accompanying them on a year of new experiences.
“The fact that we get to experience all of the kids’ firsts with them — their first field trip on a bus, their first school holidays with them — are all very exciting times. I don’t think there’s any other grade level that gets to experience all those firsts with them,” she said.
Smith had valuable advice to give from all her years of teaching.
“One thing that I think is very important for new teachers and veteran teachers, they need to start the year by building relationships with their students,” she said. “It’s important that they build trust, and I think everything else is secondary. The curriculum, the routines, those will all fall into place.
“I think it’s so important that you teach your kids that you have unconditional love for them because you might be the only person who does have that for them at that point in their life. I also think it’s important that you surround yourself with positive people, people who have your back.”
Smith and her husband have three children and four grandchildren.
There were five other candidates for District Teacher of the Year from the R-I district, Westwood Baptist Academy and Three Rivers College.
Tracey Hall is the practical arts department head at PBHS and teaches computer, banking and finance classes. She is also an advisor for the Poplar Bluff branch of Future Business Leaders of America, Inc.
Students grow up fast, so she advised fellow teachers to enjoy the present by fostering relationships.
“Enjoy the time. Ask them questions get to know them,” she said. “The best way I’ve found to get to know students is to ask them questions. That’s the way to get them out of their shell, get them talking and usually leads to good relationships.”
Hall is married, with two sons attending R-I schools.
Dale Kennedy teaches students with intellectual disabilities at Poplar Bluff Middle School. He believes there are many teaching moments in a day, but his favorite thing is watching students take initiative in their own lives.
“But even more important than that are those times when the kid realizes that the most important variable in their life, in their success and education, is themselves and taking responsibility for it,” he said. “And (if) you pay close attention, you get to see that, and that’s fantastic.”
Kennedy and his wife have been married for 47 years. They have two daughters and one granddaughter.
Jessica Haggett is a junior high and high school teacher at Westwood Baptist Academy. This year she is teaching history and government for five different grade levels. She values the chance to teach from a biblical perspective, she explained, so her students are ready for the rest of their lives.
“My words of wisdom would be to not forget why you choose to teach. Is it important to cover your content material? Absolutely, yes. But also keep in mind that you’re helping to shape your students for who they will be after they graduate from high school,” Haggett said.
Haggett also serves at Westwood Baptist Church alongside her family.
Dr. Amy Kopf is an associate professor of physical science at TRC. She specializes in chemistry.
“I really get the most pleasure out of teaching when I see a student realize the connection between science and their everyday life,” she said.
She offered a time-saving tip to teachers: do not reinvent the wheel for each classroom.
“Take the time to see what’s already out there, instead of feeling compelled to create yourself everything,” she said.
Kopf has three sons who are active in athletics and scouting.
Delores Reed is an adjunct professor at TRC. She teaches medical billing and coding courses. Her motivation in teaching is, “I want to help people to pursue their desire and do a good job.”
As she teaches her students, she has found more to learn herself.
“As I’m doing this, I’ve learned something every day,” she said. “The thing I try to do is to treat my students as I would want to be treated. I try to give them respect and I expect respect in return.”
Reed and her husband have a growing family, including five grandchildren.
Poplar Bluff Schools selected honorees by campus from within its district. In addition to Hall, Kennedy and Smith, the teachers are Amanda Bullington, Poplar Bluff Junior High School; Candy Taylor, Technical Career Center; Pennie Ethridge, Early Childhood Center; Kylee Moss, Eugene Field Elementary School; Carey Wilkerson, Oak Grove Elementary School; Andrea Cline, O’Neal Elementary School; and Dee Jones, Mark Twain Elementary School.
The Daily American Republic will highlight each of these teachers in upcoming features.