Amy Pack Young is the Teacher of the Month for November at DeKalb West School, an honor bestowed upon her by her peers.

“I am truly surprised and honored to be Teacher of the Month!” Young said.

A graduate of D.C.H.S. and Tennessee Tech, Young started with DWS in 2006 as a Kindergarten teacher. Previously, she had been an assistant in the DWS preschool the first year it became available in 2001 and also was a substitute teacher for a couple of years.

My sister [DWS RTI teacher Kim Crook] and I always babysat and worked within daycare,” Young says of her interest in early childhood education. “I love watching the excitement of little ones learning.”

“Ms. Young works with our most at risk students,” says Principal Sabrina Farler. “She prepares her students to be ready for Kindergarten. She sets high expectations for every child in her class.” 

“She is a great coworker and I enjoy working with her,” says Kindergarten teacher Tonya Ellis.

Young also is the devoted mother of 6th grader Emily Young and 4th grader Chase Young.

“I love DeKalb West as an employer and as a parent,” says Young. “I love that our school is small enough that we all know each other as well as the students too. This helps us be there for each other and the students.”

DeKalb Schools Schools Instruction Supervisor PreK-5 Michelle Burklow says Young puts her heart into her job.

“I once read that when you go to work, a person should not leave their heart at home,” said Burklow.  “Ms. Amy Young lives by this each and every day. She knows that until her kids feel loved and feel a part of her classroom community the goals she has set for her students cannot be met. 

“Last year she told me that this class could have the person in it to cure cancer.  She saw the child in front of her and the potential.”