Pyland is PBHS Teacher of the Year

Editor’s Note: This is the second of 12 stories highlighting Butler County Teachers of the Year.

From helping students understand math to keeping people laughing, Golf Coach Billy Pyland works to connect with students.

Pyland was named as the 2020-21 Teacher of the Year for Poplar Bluff High School. This is his fourth time as Teacher of the Year since starting at the school in 1992.

Math teacher and coach Billy Pyland works with students during class.Photo provided prior to COVID closures

Along with coaching golf and leading a summer golf clinic, Pyland teaches math.

“He truly tries to help students out when they come to him with a concern,” math teacher Melissa Taylor said in her nominating letter. “He also teaches students respect by answering ‘yes’ instead of ‘yeah.’

“He also teaches students confidence in themselves and general manners when speaking and responding to others.”

Math teacher and coach Billy Pyland greets students at the beginning of class.Photo provided prior to COVID closures

Multiple coworkers said Pyland works with them and offers advice when they need it.

Language Arts Teacher Stephen Patty, who also was one of Pyland’s students while in school, said Pyland greeted him as a coworker with the same welcoming and helpful demeanor as he does with students.

“I have been able to go to Coach Pyland multiple times for advice on how to manage and tutor students whom we have both had in our classes,” he wrote. “Coach Pyland has never been hesitant to take the time to offer support or words of wisdom, despite taking on extra time-consuming duties, such as coaching and cafeteria duty.”

Math teacher and coach Billy Pyland greets students at the beginning of class.Photo provided prior to COVID closures

Fellow math teacher Hope Conover said Pyland offers to help cover a class in an emergency, or whatever needs done to make the day go smoothly.

“Mr. Pyland shares his teaching methods and practices with all the teachers in the math department and offers assistance with any teacher concerning classroom management or student engagement,” she wrote.

Conover also said Pyland reaches out to parents and involves them in their child’s education.

“As a parent, I have had the opportunity to witness first hand his instructional methods and also his commitment to the wellbeing of his students,” school board member Jerrod Murphy wrote. “Billy does many things that may go unnoticed.

“He’s not only a teacher, but a coach, influencer, peacekeeper, counselor and guardian.”

Several of Pyland’s students agreed he works to make sure his students succeed through mentoring and investing in them as people.

“One instance in particular, he could tell that I was upset and asked if I was doing OK, to which I told him about my struggles with my job,” senior Kaylee-Ann Merrick wrote. “He then gave me some very useful advice that I still refer to to this day.”

Pyland tries to make everyone laugh, senior Rylee Sparks wrote, and make sure they have a good time while still learning and getting things done.

“My freshman year I’d say I was a good student, but I had a bit of an attitude problem,” senior Savannah Hudson wrote. “I figured out very quickly that having an attitude would get me nowhere in life.

“At the start of my senior year, I started having an attitude again, but because of him I walk into every class with a smile on my face.”