Shawntel Coy
Lake Highlands High School graduate Shawntel Coy’s first experience as a teacher came long before she was hired at Forest Meadow Middle School. Her late mother, Nancy Newhouse, was a dedicated educator, caring for children and helping with their homework. On one memorable “Take Your Daughter to Work Day,” she invited Coy and her twin sister Dawnyel to join her in her classroom. Motivated by her mother’s example, Coy pursued a teaching career on the same campus.
“Teaching is rewarding as I witness my students’ growth and success,” says Coy. Preparing today’s students is “fulfilling a dream.”
Coy has been nominated “America’s Favorite Teacher” and stands to collect $25,000, a feature article in Reader’s Digest, a trip to Hawaii and a school assembly with Bill Nye the Science Guy if she’s named the final winner. The contest is hosted by Reader’s Digest and benefits The Planetary Society.
You may vote online here. Voting for the top 20 ends March 6.
Coy says her most memorable teaching experience involved a student in the AVID program, which provides organizational techniques and study skills to help students enroll in advanced courses and plan for college.
“Now in my class, he has been attentive to lessons focused on real-world life skills,” Coy says. “He refers to me as his ‘school mom,’ showing appreciation for my support and listening. After meeting his mother, she thanked me for helping him stay out of trouble and creating a safe space. This rewarding experience confirms I am positively impacting my students’ lives.”
