COE Grad Amy Denty Named 2000 Georgia Teacher of the Year

The students in Amy Denty's sixth-grade science class spend very little time reading out of textbooks and copying notes from a chalkboard. Instead, most of their classroom learning is hands-on.

Whether mummifying chickens, making slime, conducting scientific experiments or examining the more than 100-foot long, life-size model of a sperm whale that their teacher created, Denty's students learn scientific concepts in fascinating ways.

"My classroom is very inquiry based," Denty said. "I believe students must have real experiences so that they can integrate concepts into their lives and make them meaningful."

Because of her dedication to her students and the teaching profession, Denty, a sixth-grade science teacher at Arthur Williams Middle School in Wayne County and a UGA alumna, was recently named 2000 Georgia Teacher of the Year by State Superintendent of Schools Linda Schrenko. (See Savannah Morning News feature on Denty.)

Denty was honored in front of a crowd of hundreds, including Gov. Roy Barnes and the 1999 National Teacher of the Year and COE alumnus Andy Baumgartener, at the annual Georgia Teacher of the Year Recognition Banquet at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Hotel.

"At a time when our society needs caring, talented and dedicated teachers more than ever, Amy Denty is a dream come true for parents, students and fellow educators," said State Superintendent Schrenko. "The standards she sets for her students and herself are standards that set an inspirational example for all of Georgia's 85,000 classroom teachers."

Denty attributes much of her success in the classroom today to her educational background in middle school science education at the UGA College of Education. "The program really prepared its undergraduates with the knowledge and the skills to run an effective classroom," she said. "Every college should use UGA as a model."

The curriculum requires that the science education majors take teaching methods classes within the College of Education paired with content courses taught by science professors. "By taking the methods and content courses at the same time, we were able to gain a deep knowledge of science while learning the best ways to teach it," she said.

Denty also said her education curriculum provided real-world experience that helped her make a smooth transition into the classroom. "Each Friday, educators who were currently teaching in public schools would come into our classroom and work with us one on one," she said. "We would also have practicum opportunities every quarter where we could go into realclassrooms and work with children."

Denty credits Michael Padilla, professor in COE's School of Teacher Education, as having a profound impact on her decision to become a science teacher. "I had Dr. Padilla for two courses, but he was also my advisor and my friend," she said. "I never dreamed of teaching science because it was the subject I hated most in school, but he encouraged me to stick with it, and now I couldn't imagine myself teaching anything else."

"Amy was a spirited, intellectual and excited young woman. I could see from the beginning that if she stayed excited, she would really go places," said Padilla. "We are really lucky to have her as a science teacher in this state, and she is most deserving of this honor."

In her capacity as Georgia Teacher of the Year, Denty will participate in various conferences and workshops designed to improve the quality of educators in the state. She will also work closely with the state Department of Education where she will serve as an ambassador of public education in Georgia.

The Georgia Teacher of the Year is selected from 142 nominations submitted from school systems across the state. Twelve semi-finalists are then chosen and visited at their respective schools by a team of judges who interview and observe them.

"It's really exciting to know that through teaching I may allow children to experience something in the classroom that they may not have otherwise," she said. "It is always my hope that I can light a spark in my students that encourages them to want to be a lifelong learner and that they will carry that desire with them beyond the classroom."
 

Denty is 11^th COE grad named Teacher of Year

Denty is the 11^th COE alum to earn this honor since 1971, and the second in as many years. Here is a look at previous COE grads selected Georgia's Teacher of the Year, grade taught and school system:

2000 Amy Denty, Science, Wayne County
1999 Andy Baumgartner, Kindergarten, Richmond County
1994 Vallye Blanton, First Grade, Lowndes County
1984 Kay Harvey, Math, Gwinnett County
1983 James McRaney, Music, DeKalb County
1982 Sandra Worsham, English, Baldwin County
1980 Emma Stevens, Murrah Kindergarten, Lowndes County
1977 Patricia Hammond, Learning Disabilitiy, Lumpkin County
1976 Edith Smoak, Psychology, Glynn County
1974 Norma Lattimore, First Grade, Rome City
1973 Kathleen Hobgood White, Second Grade, Barrow County (deceased)

WRITER: Jodi Riggins, 706/542-8083, jriggins@arches.uga.edu
CONTACT: Amy Denty, 912/427-1025