Cupcakes, balloons and smiles decorated the hallways of Murray Elementary on Monday. West Kentucky Star and award sponsor, Scott Walker Construction, presented the December Teacher of the Month to Kristina Perry. Perry teaches special education, specifically the kindergarten through 3rd grade complex needs classroom.
"My students [should be seen] for their abilities, not their disabilities,” Perry explained. She wants others to know that a complex needs classroom is not like a typical classroom. “Everybody is on different levels. It’s not like a regular classroom where the majority are on grade level. We have everybody at all different points.” Perry said the best part about teaching this class is “I love to see my students grow and learn new things.”
After teaching special education for 17 years, you would naturally assume she’s thinking about what retirement would be like in a few years. Nope. When asked if she thinks she’ll teach long past retirement age she said, “I hope so! It’s where my heart is.”
The award, sponsored by Scott Walker Construction, will continue through each month of the school year. All 10 Teachers of the Month from the 2022-2023 school year will be considered for the favorite teacher in the 2023 West Kentucky Star Teacher of the Year.
You can nominate your favorite teacher for January by clicking here.
Pictured above: Chris Morgan of Scott Walker Construction presents the December Teacher of the Month Award to Murray Elementary’s Kristina Perry. She is joined by her daughter Sadie (front) son Owen (back) and husband Jesse (far right).
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