Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
The gift of teaching not only impacts the lives of students but of families as well. Many teachers have an effect so strongly on their students that it trickles into the lives of their families as well.
VFW Post 4491 shared that it felt this way about many of the teachers in Craig County, especially recently elected Pam Boyer who received the High School Teacher Award, CJ Crowder the Middle School Teacher Award and Melissa Beaudoin Alternative Teacher Award.
Each year, people are welcome to nominate teachers who have shown exceptional teaching skills in their classes, explaining the reasons behind their nomination to the local VFW.
The VFW received letters for different teachers and an exceptional nomination for Boyer. It stated:
I am writing to enthusiastically nominate Pam Boyer for the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education High School Teacher Award. Over her remarkable two-decade career at Craig County High school, Pam has exhibited an unwavering commitment the fostering good citizenship, instilling knowledge, and inspiring a passion for learning within her students.
Pam has made an indelible impact on countless young lives through her dedicated teaching of high school biology and earth science. Her approach to education goes beyond the confines of textbooks and conventional classroom methods. Pam is a true champion of hands-on, experimental learning, and she actively engages her students through innovative practices like dissections and interactive labs. These experiences not only deepen her students understanding of science but also instill a sense of curiosity and wonder, igniting A lifelong love for learning.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Pam’s teaching career is her relentless commitment to providing her students with the best educational resources. She understands the importance of equipping her classroom with the tools necessary for effective learning. Pam tirelessly fundraises to procure essential classroom supplies, including microscopes, which enhance the learning experience for her students. Her dedication to ensuring that her students have access to these resources is a testament to her selflessness and her passion for education.
However, what truly sets Pam Boyer apart is her unwavering passion for her career and most importantly, her students. Her dedication extends far beyond the classroom as she continually seeks opportunities to inspire and mentor her students. Her guidance, encouragement, and genuine care for her students personal and academic growth create an environment where young minds flourish, not just academically, but also as responsible, engaged, and caring citizens.
Pam Boyer is a role model of good citizenship herself, and her students benefit from her exemplary conduct and leadership. Her commitment to fostering a sense of community and social responsibility within her classroom is a reflection of her character as an educator and a citizen.
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly nominate Pam Boyer for the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education High School Teacher Award. Her dedication to her students, innovative teaching methods, and tireless efforts to provide the best learning resources exemplify the values and principles upheld by this prestigious award. She is a true asset to Craig County High school and an inspiration to her colleagues and students alike.
Thank you for considering Pam Boyer for this well-deserved honor. I am confident that she is more than deserving of this recognition for her exceptional contributions to education and her unwavering dedication to her students and community.
“I was very honored to receive this award! I have tremendous respect for all members of the armed forces and was very pleased that they would recognize me,” shared Boyer. “I am teaching high school science courses (biology, ecology, and anatomy). I have been teaching at CCPS for 20 years and LOVE being a teacher. Being able to spend my days talking about science with really great students is wonderful. I am really grateful for the award and the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful community.”
Melissa Beaudoin was selected for the first Alternative Teacher Award.
“I have been teaching in some context for 14 years, the majority in early childhood education. For these last three years, I have had the true honor of serving as the director of the Kindling School, a faith-based, homeschooling cooperative located in town. In this capacity, I have moved from primarily serving students to serving our teachers and homeschooling parents,” Beaudoin shared. “Together, we hope to kindle in our students both a love for learning and a faith in Jesus that far exceeds our own.”
She was quick to add that the days she gets to spend in the classroom are her absolute favorite days.
“It was truly a joy to be the first nominee for this award to come from an alternative schooling environment. As there are a remarkable variety of student learners, parents and educators alike are reminded that the ways in which we instruct them should also display variety!” she added. “I appreciate that the VFW has recognized that, like learners and instruction come in all shapes and sizes, so do instructors. I feel humbled to have been named among such a wonderful class of instructors who have received this award prior.”
CJ Crowder was nominated for the Middle School Teacher of the Year Award and though very complimentary letters were submitted for him and Beaudoin; they were not available for print.
