The Montgomery County School District recently announced its teachers of the year at both Montgomery County Elementary School and Montgomery County High School.
Amanda Dean, the pre-kindergarten teacher at Montgomery County Elementary School, was named the elementary school and the school district’s teacher of the year. Dean is in her fifth year teaching four-year-olds at the Kilmichael school.
Dean said “because of her love of the kids” she always does a little extra to make lessons fun.
“Learning can be fun,” Dean said. “I try to incorporate music and anything with a beat.”
Dean said her class loves alphabet bingo and playing games. Her students even win prizes for a job well done.
“They don’t even realize they are learning,” Dean said.
Dean said her favorite part of the job is watching “the little light bulb come on” for her students.
“I just love that,” Dean said.
As for teaching older grades, Dean said she is happy with her little ones.
“4K is where I want to be,” she said.
Dean said she loves working at Montgomery County Elementary School.
“I think everyone works well here as a team,” she said. “We want to see everyone keep succeeding and be everything they want to be.”
Outside the classroom, Dean said she is actively involved in her church. She teaches Sunday school and Bible school. She spends her free time with her family.
Married to Bill Dean, the couple has two children, Noah Dean, 11, an Connor Dean, 7. Her parents are Dale and Evelyn Strickland.
Christy Stroud is the Montgomery County High School Teacher of the Year. Stroud teaches Intro to Biology, Biology I, Biology II, AP Biology, and ACT Prep at the Kilmichael school.
In her first year at the school, Stroud was completely surprised her fellow teachers voted her teacher of the year.
“It was a great surprise,” Stroud said. “I felt there were so many deserving candidates. It also boasted my confidence that they would vote for me in my first year here.”
Stroud taught for three years in Columbus before coming to Montgomery County. She said she moved because she wanted to be closer to her hometown of Eupora.
“It has been a great change,” Stroud said. “I love these kids. They are very good an well-mannered.
Stroud said in her teaching she tries to do a lot of hands-on activities and group work.
“If you can find even something little they can find interest in you can hook them,” she said. “You can really bring [learning] to life for them.”
Stroud is also the Beta Club sponsor and helps the senior class with projects like prom.
Married to Joey Stroud, the couple have one daughter, Meredith Stroud.
In her spare time, Stroud said she enjoys spending time with her family, going on road trips, and watching television.
