Amy Golden

When Conner Street Elementary teacher Amy Golden was a child, she had the smartest dolls and teddy bears to be found. That's because, as Golden says, she was a "born teacher."

This week, Golden was named Putnam County's Teacher of the Year for 2004-2005. This program recognizes and honors the contributions of outstanding classroom teachers who have demonstrated a superior capacity to inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.

Golden was nominated by the Faculty Senate of Conner Street Elementary, where she has taught kindergarten since 1997. Golden has taught in Putnam County since 1994, and before that she taught in Florida for thirteen years.

According to Principal Greg LeMaster, Golden has what it takes to make certain every child will learn. "Her enthusiasm, her innovativeness, and her genuine concern for the children are exemplary," states LeMaster. "Her flexibility in working with students, teachers, and the public has earned her an enviable reputation as an excellent teacher who truly cares about her students," he says.

Golden says her goal in teaching is not only to reach every child, but also to make certain every child in her classroom feels valued and encouraged. "It's caring that matters to our children," states Golden. "Knowing people around want you to succeed, encourage you, and help you do your best gives learners confidence to expand abilities and knowledge," she says.

In Golden's classroom, you probably won't find students sitting in straight rows. That's because she believes that children need to be in an environment that allows for comfort, safety, and variety. She structures her classes so that students are moving about, using manipulative items to solve problems, and learning through discovery.

When Golden is not directly working with her own students, she spends much of her time organizing whole-school activities and instructing other educators. She serves as Conner Street Elementary's Read Aloud Coordinator, School Volunteer Coordinator, Faculty Senate President, Technology Team member, Curriculum Committee member, and School Improvement Council member. She also serves on a number of county and state committees and speaks at county, state, and national conferences.

Besides teaching, another of Golden's passions is volunteering, and two organizations especially benefit from her enthusiasm. She spends most summers assisting at Hurricane High School's band camp as cook and bottle washer. During football season, she work's in the school's concession stand. Literacy Volunteers of Putnam County is the other organization that benefits greatly from Golden's enthusiasm. According to Golden, "The new [federal school] legislation should be called 'Nobody Left Behind'," and she works hard to help create a successful reading program for Putnam County adults. She plans to add a new element to her literacy volunteering when she obtains training to work with non-English speakers.

Amy Golden is one of the few lucky people who has found her passion and is able to live it out every day. "I wake up in the morning with my mind on teaching my little ones, and I go to sleep knowing I've made a difference in my students' lives. No other career could give me that much satisfaction, accomplishment, and desire to do it again and again," she states.

The honor of being Putnam County Teacher of the year is a great one, but according to Golden, "The greatest reward I can receive is knowing my students will be happy lifetime learners."