One of Hillview Elementary teacher Tammy Maloy’s favorite things about teaching is being able to learn from her students.
Maloy has taught for 24 years at the Neelyville R-IV school district and was recently named Hillview Teacher of the Year.
The district has also recognized the following educators as Teacher of the Year for their campuses: LaMonica Moore, Neelyville Elementary; Madison Shearer, Neelyville Junior High School; and Jessica Newcomb, Neelyville High School. Newcomb was also named district Teacher of the Year. Each teacher is being featured separately in an ongoing series recognizing outstanding educators in Butler County.
This is the second year Neelyville has named teachers of the year.
“It’s very humbling,” Maloy said. “I was not expecting it at all. I work with awesome teachers, and everybody here could have easily been a Teacher of the Year.
“I just appreciate that they all thought that much of me or enough of me to vote for me, because like I said, there’s not a one of them that couldn’t easily be a Teacher of the Year.”
Maloy started with Neelyville as a student teacher before becoming a fifth grade teacher. She also taught title reading and second grade before now working as a title math teacher for kindergarten through second grade.
She said she’s always felt drawn to teaching.
“I just like the idea of the students learning from me and me learning with them,” Maloy said. “I feel like they teach me as much as I teach them. In the whole 24 years, I don’t think there’s been a day that I regretted going to work.”
While it was always a dream, Maloy said she “started late” since she didn’t start teaching until after she had her two sons.
Now, she has two grandchildren who attend the Neelyville school district.
The best thing about teaching, Maloy said, is when she’s able to see a student understands what she’s been trying to teach them.
As a title math teacher, she provides extra assistance for students.
“A light bulb comes on and you say ‘yes, yes, that’s what you do,’” she said. “I think that’s something that is very rewarding on both ends; for them and for me.
“A lot of the kids don’t always get it right off and you work with them. Then you find out from teachers later down the road that they’re doing great and you think ‘Hey, that’s so awesome that they’re doing great.’”
As much as she loves teaching, Maloy said there are challenges to it. For instance, trying to make sure all the students are reaching their potential.
“You’re dealing with several different kinds of personalities, sever different learning stages,” she said. “Some kids can get it today, some may not get it until next week or the next week, or it could be a year down the road … It’s OK to be that way, it’s OK to be unique and to get there at different paces.”
Outside of work, Maloy said she enjoys going to ballgames with her granddaughters, who live locally, and watching them play. She’s also a pet mom with three dogs and a cat.
“My oldest (granddaughter), she plays sports,” she said. “She just finished with the basketball and now she’s doing softball.”
She also has two granddaughters who live near St. Louis and a stepdaughter, along with her two sons.
Maloy said she also enjoys reading and spending time with her husband.
Working in elementary school, she said, there’s never a dull moment.
“They’ve always got something to tell you or something to say about something,” Maloy said. “So that’s always very, very interesting and can make your day sometimes. Sometimes it does make your day if they tell you the truth.”