Heather Smith, a math teacher at Waynesville Middle School in Haywood County, has been named North Carolina’s Burroughs Wellcome Teacher of the Year. She’s the first from the western region in 30 years. Smith emphasises real-world math applications, individualised student approaches, and attending their extracurricular events for connection. She plans to promote education across the state, aiming to uplift teaching as a profession amidst high turnover rates. Smith credits her faith, fellow educators, students, and her husband, also a teacher, for her success.
A middle school educator who champions the idea that “everyone is a math student” has been awarded the title of North Carolina Teacher of the Year.
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