Ellison Science Teacher Amy Key is Secondary Teacher of the Year

EHS teacher gets hug from a big fan - her sonTeaching advanced science at the high school level is just the beginning of the Killeen ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year’s commitment to nurturing students.

 

On Friday, a large group of educators and family members quietly tiptoed up the stairs at Ellison High School, clustered in the hallway and burst into the laboratory classroom where chemistry teacher Amy Key was, of course, teaching.

EHS chemistry teacher gets big check, big support

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With streamers and confetti, a plaque, ceremonial check and the Ellison cheerleaders, the group revealed Key is KISD Secondary Teacher of the Year.

 

She has taught various advanced science classes at Ellison High School her whole 16-year career and was a tennis coach for 12 of those years up until the birth of her third child.

 

Ellison Principal David Dominguez praised Key for her deep love and commitment as an expert in her academic field, as well as a teacher who cares for her students and convinces them they can succeed.

 

“It was amazing. It was a shock. I just stopped shaking,” the overwhelmed teacher said as her many guests started to file out of the classroom. “It’s just an honor. I’m honored I work with so many amazing teachers. To be in that same category, I’m truly honored and blessed.”

 

Key has two sisters who are teachers who influenced her. “I wanted to be able to help students just like they help students. That’s my goal every day is just to grow my students to be the best versions of themselves.”

 

“Being a first-generation college graduate I feel the path set for me is something I can pass on, the encouragement, the persistence, the skills they need to be successful. If I can impact them, they can turn around and impact so many others, so it keeps duplicating.”

 

She took on coaching tennis to enlarge the circle of students she could influence, and she builds engaging lessons to make sure her students grasp hold of the content in a memorable way.

 

“I try to give them engaging things every day. I like to change it up. I want them to say what are we doing in class today. Chemistry is hard. I try to make it fun, make it engaging...relevant and give them those real-life applications.”

Ellison teacher surprised with award

 

One of her favorite projects, an environmental science lab, is one her students seem to remember years later and reflects her desire to make learning personal. In fact, one former student recently asked her to share resources so she could use it at the college level.

 

The multi-week lab requires that students work in groups to build an ecosystem model with terrestrial, filtration and aquatic chambers and grow plants and care for fish.

 

“This lab allows all students to be successful, take ownership of their learning, problem-solve, and think critically,” she wrote in a response for the teacher of the year process.

 

“What I love about my diverse student population is that each student brought their own experiences and skill sets and contributed to the learning,” she explained.

 

The Ellison science teacher is part of the National Educators for Restorative Practices, a group that promotes building and sustaining classroom relationships.

 

“We all learned about one another, and the connections were made that led to building positive relationships among everyone in the class,” Key said of the practices she applies to her classroom.

 

“I care about all students, not just the ones in my classes. I advocate for all students to obtain a high-quality education and find ways to do so.”

 

“I try to create a positive learning environment every day,” she said. “With restorative practices, it’s about building relationships with students, knowing they are heard, they are seen, they are loved. That’s my goal. I do teach chemistry, but really and truly I want them to know that they are becoming the best human, the best student, the best version of themselves.”

 

This year’s elementary and secondary teacher of the year receive $5,000 apiece. The 10 KISD teacher of the year finalists receive $1,000 each. The other 40 campus-level teachers of the year receive $500 each.

 

A group of district leaders presented surprise awards to the finalists on Wednesday. A group of family and district and school leaders presented the elementary teacher of the year Thursday for Peebles Elementary bilingual kindergarten teacher Rosabelle Montero.

 

The elementary finalists are Michelle DeWees, Saegert Elementary; Antoinette Yuille, Brookhaven Elementary; Omar Esson, Fowler Elementary; Sarah Barnum, Clifton Park Elementary; Noris Garagate, Cavazos Elementary; and Calvin Payno, Carney Elementary.

 

The secondary finalists are Shatira Harris, Palo Alto Middle School; Sara Crawford, Career Center; Angela Elliott, Audie Murphy Middle School; and Jimmy Hammond, Killeen High School.

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