Every year the St. Charles High School staff votes to determine who will win the Teacher of The Year award. This year the winner was Angie Southard, a longtime math teacher at the school.  

Southard said that she has been teaching for 13 years, and teaching at St. Charles High School for nine. She said she became a teacher because she likes to help people learn and that it would be a career that would allow her to be more available to her family one day. Southard chose to teach math because she loves it and they were always the classes she helped others in the most.

Southard stated that her favorite thing about being a teacher is when a student who doesn’t think they can do math gets it. She loves to watch students push through challenges until they figure it out. She loves to be a part of the growth and being a part of students discovering that they can do math. 

“I was shocked when I learned that I was nominated for Teacher of the Year.  I truly was not expecting it at all,” Southard said. “I feel there are so many deserving teachers here at SCHS.  I am a better teacher because I get to work with so many wonderful people who do what it takes to help students grow.”

Many of the teachers at St. Charles High School are in support of Southard winning the award.

“Mrs. Southard is an amazing teacher. When I started as a para, I was in one of Mrs. Southard’s Geometry classes, and I loved her teaching style,” said math teacher Austin Forney. “She is also an incredibly hard worker, I have seen her multiple times working in her room hours after school ends. She puts in countless hours to make sure she is doing the best for her students, and I could not think of someone who deserves teacher of the year more than her.”

Colleague Melissa Kohr also feels Southard is a deserving recipient.

“Mrs. Southard deserves Teacher of the Year because she works tirelessly to engage her students. She truly cares about whether they understand the material, and wants each student to have a positive experience in her class, and to be successful,” Kohr said. “Mrs. Southard is always looking for something different she can do to make it more fun, while also allowing students to truly learn and practice the material. Mrs. Southard is a great teacher, and is very deserving of this honor.”

Math teacher Christina Pupillo is also in support of Southard’s win.

“Mrs. Southard is a great teacher. She is always willing to go above and beyond for her students, whether it is through creative lessons or providing additional support. Mrs. Southard works hard to help every student succeed in her class. We are very lucky to have her as a teacher at St. Charles High,” Pupillo said.

Coworker Rachel Madden believes Southard is deserving of the award as well.

“Mrs. Southard goes above and beyond to help all her students learn math.  She is a great colleague who is willing to collaborate and share ideas to improve student learning,” Madden said.