From corporate to classroom: Teacher of the Year enjoys helping others succeed
Judy Boyd spent many years training employees for a major telecommunications company.
Boyd found this aspect of her work to be rewarding and after 33 years of service, she still had a desire to help others succeed – in the classroom.
So, Boyd made a decision to return to college to obtain an education degree.
She enrolled at Southern Wesleyan University’s North Augusta education center, where she earned her Master of Education degree.
Boyd’s dedication as a fourth-grade Gifted and Talented teacher at Greendale Elementary School in Aiken County earned the respect of her peers, so she was named the 2017-2018 Teacher of the Year for her school.
Rewarding for Boyd are the successes that come out of challenges when trying to impart concepts that not all students grasp right away. During a previous year she saw students struggling with reading fluency and comprehension.
“The students were required to take reading inventory tests three times a year – fall, winter and spring – to check for reading growth. Through the efforts of myself and the school reading coach, many students went from reading below third-grade level in the fall to reading at grade level in the spring,” Boyd said. “We were amazed at their growth, which also helped them excel in science, social studies and math.”
Boyd learned about SWU from Julianne Dove and Liz McClearen, who both attended classes at SWU’s North Augusta Education Center and recommended she enroll.
“The classes I took at SWU for Educational Administration and Supervision helped me realize what is needed to become an effective leader in the school system. Using active or retired principals to teach the courses helped give us real-life scenarios of what we would encounter as a school leader, along with suggestions on how to be an effective leader,” Boyd said, adding that having devotions and prayer at the beginning of each class helped her spiritually at the end of a hard day.
“I also came to the realization that if I wanted to be a school leader, I also needed to be a servant to my faculty and staff - which portrays what Christ wants me to do- serve others,” Boyd said.
Southern Wesleyan’s North Augusta education center is located at 101 Martintown Rd. Suite 101. For details about programs, call (803) 426-7981 or email .
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. For details about degree programs, visit swu.edu.
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