By Kelsey Knott
“It’s a powerful thing to believe in people so much that they begin to believe in themselves, so I deci
ded that’s what I wanted to do with my life: To teach.” Jennifer Montgomery grew up in a three-room cabin without telephone service or indoor plumbing. Despite struggles, her family encouraged her to dream big. Her phenomenal teachers in her K-12 public school and at Asbury University encouraged, challenged, and believed in her when she didn’t believe in herself.
INFLUENCES/INSPIRATION:
“I look for stories that inspire me because my passion will come out effortlessly. I teach a water scarcity unit with the novel A Long Walk to Water because I’ve traveled a lot and seen the reality of this crisis, but I have also lived it somewhat. Growing up without indoor plumbing, we drove 20 miles to fill up jugs from a well weekly. That’s different from walking to get water daily, but it’s a personal connection most students have no concept of, so while they learn reading strategies, I also help them create empathy by walking a mile around our football field while carrying a gallon of water. Waterstep and The Louisville Water Tower teach us about water purification. We read about Martin County, Kentucky and Flint, Michigan. We build water filters. Real world connections drive learning.”
MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF TEACHING:
“Connection–with students, colleagues, and the community. Though we crave human connection, people are oftentimes very disconnected, even from people they spend hours with daily. A student told me a 3-4 minute story about something he learned on his computer. It was over my head, but I listened and asked questions. After his story, he said, ‘I can’t believe you actually listened to me. I’ve been wanting to tell that to someone all week.’ Our ‘why’ is sitting in front of us. If we don’t have time for them, we’ve missed the mark.”
WHAT DO YOU WISH MORE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT TEACHING / EDUCATION?
“While teaching is one of the most rewarding professions, it is also one of the hardest. As teachers, we truly care about our students. We work hard, even in the summer. We know it’s a great responsibility, but we aren’t magic. We can’t continuously do more with less. Teaching reminds me of what is important in life: people. I hope we all remember that teachers are people too.”
ON COMMUNITY:
“At Eminence Independent, teachers are valued, trusted, and encouraged to be creative, embodying “Surprise and Delight” to make school fun and exciting and “Yes, and” thinking. Eminence is a small town where many students face economic and social challenges. We work hard to give students access, through laptops, field trips, passion projects, and project-based learning. We take learning outside the classroom and make it applicable to everyday life. Our supportive community partners with our students in various ways, trusting them and investing in both their future and their present.”
ON LIFELONG LESSONS:
“I want students to feel empowered and know their stories matter because they matter. The world is a big place–I want them to empathize with others, be moved with compassion, and understand that small acts of love and compassion make a difference. They may never get recognized or honored for them, but it is powerful to say to another person through words or action, ‘I see you.’ Literature has a way of taking us outside of our lives and creating a space where we are surprised by truth in unexpected ways. With A Long Walk to Water, students learn about the Lost Boys of Sudan and women and girls who can’t get an education because they spend their days collecting water so their families survive. As the author of the book, Linda Sue Park, says, “Life isn’t fair [and] we need all the practice we can get at facing life’s unfairness with both grace and grit.” When we each carry a gallon of water and walk for a mile, they get it. They use phrases like “this creates a cycle,” “no chance at education,” and “we are water rich.” When juniors and seniors see my door decorated like a hut, they say, “Are you reading about Salva?” They remember what they learned years ago, but also the character’s name, because he is real to them. Salve’s story matters, but so does their story.”
ON THE HONOR OF KENTUCKY TEACHER OF THE YEAR:
“Winning KY Teacher of the Year is a shared honor. I won this through shared experiences with colleagues, administrators, family members, community members, friends, and students who shaped my journey and poured into my life. Teaching is an art–a tapestry, filled with threads of thousands of experiences I’ve had over the last two decades, good and bad, woven together to create something remarkable. I want to represent my profession and my community well. I wouldn’t be here without them.
The contents, opinions, and viewpoints contained herein are those of the 2025 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Montgomery, and do not necessarily represent the official views and opinions of the Kentucky Department of Education.