By Tabitha Evans Moore | EDITOR & PUBLISHER

It’s Teacher Appreciation Day across the U.S. and the Moore County system bursts with smart, dedicated teachers who are making a difference in students’ lives every day in the classroom. To celebrate, The Times decided to ask around and find out who administrators, fellow teachers, parents, and students thought stood out and one of those was  Moore County High School English teacher Aimee Houghton.

Despite being discouraged from entering the profession by others based on the stereotypical low pay and extensive educational requirements, Houghton says she always knew she wanted to teach but she needed a nudge, and as is often the case that nudge came from a teacher, who saw and encouraged her potential.

During her senior year of high school, administrators placed her in a weight training class as part of the family and consumer science pathway. As a teenage girl, it just wasn’t something she felt excited about doing. That’s when a teacher and family friend, Mrs. Jordan, switched weightlifting to an Intro to Teaching class, and the rest as they is history.

So, after graduation at Marshall County High School, the Lewisburg native decided to pursue college degrees that would allow her to do just that. She holds a Bachelor of Science in 4-8 Integrated Studies with an endorsement in 6-12 English Language Arts as well as a Master of Instructional Leadership.

Seven years ago, the local administration hired her as MCHS’s ninth grade English 1 and Honors English teacher. She also coaches the first-ever Moore County Middle School Girls’ Volleyball team, as well as acting as a class sponsor for the MCHS Class of 2022 and currently the Class of 2027.

Houghton lives in Moore County with her husband, Aaron, and their two sons.

Progress not perfection

Houghton says teaching freshmen feels like the perfect fit for her.

“I think this is the ideal age group because they are still in a stage where they are eager to learn, but they still have a desire to have fun and be silly. It’s a nice balance,” she says.

The transition from middle school to high school can be difficult to manage for some students. Students find themselves navigating the pitfalls of maturing emotionally, socially, and cognitively. One day, they’re super mature. The next day, they regress. Not to mention the fact that they’re still-developing bodies are raging with hormones.

Despite all these obstacles, Houghton says she feels invested in every single student that enters her classroom and values their holistic wellbeing – even when test scores don’t reflect what she knows to be their true potential. It’s a lesson she learned her very first year of teaching.

“At the conclusion of my first year, I really felt like I had not done a good job delivering content to my students, but after viewing their scores, I could see that almost every child showed some level of growth which made me ecstatic and eager to continue my work in the classroom,” she says.

“I am the first to tell anyone that standardized test scores do not define the worth of a child; however, the one thing that I value from those results is growth. I always tell my students there’s no way we can all be a Level 4, but we can all show growth.”

It’s the student that matters most

Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that teaching is a challenging profession. In addition to testing pressure, teaching in the current political climate is especially challenging due to a convergence of cultural, legislative, and societal tensions that often place educators at the center of issues that are well beyond their control. It can leave local educators feeling invisible and underappreciated, but Houghton says the Moore County district feels like one big family and teachers, administrators, school board, and Director of Schools all support each other.

“It can be easy to feel underappreciated or that what you’re doing is not important. This is just not a position that receives praise equal to other work in modern society,” she says.

She’s also quick to point out that praise isn’t what teachers enter the profession to achieve. They want to be difference-makers to kids that come through their classrooms.

“What motivates us all is seeing the fruit of our labor and seeing that child that struggled to make it through all their classes walk across the stage with pride or the little post it notes left on your desk from former students telling you how much they miss your class. That’s what matters,” she says.

As much as Houghton says she’s dedicated to teaching by-the-book, improving scores, and graduating young adults ready to face the world outside Lynchburg, she says her students often teach her just as much as she teaches them.

“I am a very by-the-book person. I am a rule follower, and it is easy for me to be very literal and dry. Over the years, my students have really taught me that it is okay to have fun sometimes,” Houghton confesses. “These are the years that students will remember forever and as much as I want them to know the content I teach, I also want them to have a rich high school experience full of positive memories.”

Students deserve to be met where they are

In the end, Houghton says she wishes the public knew how much energy and how many hours go into doing the job well.

“On the outside it looks like teachers get to work at 7:30 a.m., work until 3 p.m., and then peacefully enjoy paid evenings, weekends, and holidays off. I could bitterly contest this and make a laundry list of things I do that far exceed contract hours and duties, but again, teachers do not do what we do to be patted on the back. We do it because it benefits our students and strengthens the school community.”

Moving forward, she says her hope for the education system in Moore County and across the nation is that as a society we can learn to value fostering a culture of mutual understanding and respect that values each student’s individual path and innate talents.

“My biggest hope for the future of education is that it becomes more personalized, inclusive, and adaptable to individual needs. Students are so much more than test scores. They deserve an opportunity to be met where they are and explore the things they are passionate about,” she says.

“Moore County is a wonderful and supportive community. I would like everyone to know that being a teacher means truly caring for your students and believing in their potential, listening to their needs, and guiding them with patience and kindness. It’s about making a positive impact on their lives beyond just academics.” •

{The Lynchburg Times is a non-partisan, locally owned and locally operated community newspaper in Lynchburg, Tennessee and one of the few women-owned newspapers in the state. It’s owned by a native and Tulane University-educated journalist with over 20 years of experience. It’s supported by both readers and community partners who believe in independent journalism for the common good. You can support us by clicking here. }