Judy Berry has been selected as Putnam County Teacher of the Year for 2008 – 2009. Nominated by her peers at George Washington Elementary School where she teaches first grade, Berry was first named Elementary School Teacher of the Year before attaining county Teacher of the Year status.
Berry knew she wanted to be a teacher from the time she was in junior high school, when she was recruited by a teacher to work in a summer program with struggling elementary students. Working one-on-one with young children, she felt the rewards of opening a world to young learners. From that time, according to Berry, she was hooked -- “born to teach, and loving it!”
Berry, who strives to instill that same love of learning in her students, has followed her own love of learning to Glenville State College, where she obtained a degree in early childhood education with a specialization in social studies, and to Marshall University Graduate College, where she has obtained reading certification and will complete a master’s degree in reading education in August 2008. She has also completed additional post graduate work at the University of Virginia, James Madison University, Virginia Western Community College, and the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies.
Berry began her teaching career in Fayette County Schools in 1974. She has since taught in Kanawha County Schools and Roanoke City Public Schools in Roanoke, Virginia, before coming to Putnam County. She has taught every grade at the elementary level.
Besides her classroom activities, Berry is active in many other aspects of her profession. She is Chair of the George Washington Elementary Curriculum Team and a member of the School Strategic Planning Team and the Technology Team. She has also served on the county’s Writing Curriculum Committee and Math Leadership Team. She is currently a WVDE Teacher Leadership Institute participant who presents professional development for her school and serves as a mentor to pre-service teachers.
Nearly ten years ago, Berry attained teaching’s highest certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. Today, she mentors teachers who are seeking National Board Certification for Putnam County Schools and the WVDE, and she has served as an evaluator and presenter for the National Board.
Berry holds membership in several organizations, including the International Reading Association, WV Reading Association, and George Washington Parent-Teacher Organization. She has also held memberships in the Putnam County Reading Council, Putnam County Education Association, West Virginia Education Association, National Education Association, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Science Teacher’s Association, and Delta Kappa Gamma.
Berry “wears many hats” in her role as teacher. One such is that of encourager. “I feel it is my responsibility to set the bar high for all students,” she states. “I believe the higher my expectations, the harder my students will strive to achieve.”
She also wears the hat of “listener”, especially in working with parents. “Educating a child takes a team – the parent, the teacher, and the child, working together toward a common goal,” she says. “Parents are usually well aware of their child’s strengths and weaknesses, and they need a good listening ear to air their concerns about many things, including the community, the school, and family matters.”
According to Berry, one of her greatest rewards is seeing the difference she has made in the lives of students. When she meets a former student who remembers activities they did in her classroom, it reminds her that “every thing, even the most insignificant to me, can have a lasting impact on a life.”
Even after 34 years in the classroom, Berry remains enthusiastic about her role in the life of children. “I have learned that I can make such a difference in a child’s life, which is very empowering but also very intimidating, and definitely challenging every day,” she says.
