Whale Branch Middle music instructor named teacher of year
When Amy Simmons began teaching music at Whale Branch Middle School in 2010, the school's band was a little flat -- in tone and energy.
The students could play only one song: "Bingo."
Now four years later, the school band and students are playing and singing in harmony. The band has more than 60 songs in its repertoire, and the number of students signing up for music has more than tripled.
"I think that this growth and success goes with treating your students as a part of you, making them your family and investing in more than just what they are learning in the classroom but what is going on with them outside of school," said Simmons, 27.
"When they see you care, that is when they try to push more and want to do more and try to make you proud," she said, "but they don't realize the success is really coming for them and it will pay off for them."
That attitude and approach has the Beaufort County School District singing Simmons' praises -- she was named its teacher of the year at a breakfast celebration Friday at the Callawassie Island clubhouse, where the district's other school-level teachers of the year also were honored.
"There are a lot of very deserving teachers, but it takes a special person to work with kids considered 'at-risk' and to invest in her students the way she does," Whale Branch Middle principal Matthew Hunt said. "She is the new, fresh, exciting face of teachers."
Hunt said he does not think of Simmons as a music teacher, but as a teacher who chooses to teach music. She incorporates core subjects, such as science, history and English, into her lessons to help students connect all they are learning, he said.
Hilton Head Island High School teacher Kristen Karszes, who earned the award last year and served on this year's selection committee, said she was excited to honor someone in the arts -- an often overlooked subject.
"She grew up getting the value of what education really meant and the difference it can make in a child's life," Karszes said. "You can see that in the way she teaches and how she came into a program that was at a standstill and now is phenomenal."
Simmons' mother, Laura Simmons, taught science in the Beaufort County schools for more 30 years and attended Friday's ceremony. Laura Simmons said she knew her daughter would be a great teacher because of her outgoing personality and the passion she brings to all that she does.
"Amy has always encouraged her students that whatever is important to you, then you do it, and you work at it really hard and then you'll get it," Laura Simmons said.
For the award, Amy Simmons was allowed to choose from among three new cars or take a $5,000 check, donated by the Hilton Head Buick GMC Cadillac dealership. Simmons, who recently purchased a car, chose the check.
She was selected among four other finalists for the 2014-15 honor: Michelle Henry of Whale Branch Elementary, Caroleen Hodge of Port Royal Elementary, Annette Lee of Hilton Head Island High and Sharon McMahon of Bluffton Middle.
Simmons will now represent Beaufort County in the competition for state teacher of the year. Finalists for that award will be announced in spring.
Simmons said she is a little anxious about that contest, but she is up for the challenge -- just as she was several years ago.
"It's motivation when I see there hasn't been anyone selected from the Lowcountry in a long time," Simmons said. "I want to bring that home for us."
Follow reporter Sarah Bowman on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Sarah.
Related content:
- Beaufort County School District names teacher of year finalists , August 5, 2014
- Hilton Head High instructor wins teacher of year , September 20, 2013
This story was originally published September 19, 2014 at 4:20 PM with the headline "Whale Branch Middle music instructor named teacher of year."