Kimberly Staten
By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
Each Clay County School staff annually chooses one of their own to represent the school as Teacher of the Year. From those chosen, all school staff select Clay County District Teacher of the Year, who will represent Clay County Schools at Regional Teacher of the Year interviews.
Along with two teachers featured last week, Clay County Schools chose two other teachers as Teacher of the Year. Cayce Ledford has been named as Hayesville Elementary School Teacher of the Year, while Hayesville Primary School’s Teacher of the Year is Kimberly Staten.
Ledford started teaching 10 years ago and joined Clay County Schools nine years ago after teaching special education grades kindergarten through eight at Martins Creek. “After that, the opportunity to again be a Yellow Jacket presented itself,” she said. “I was so happy to join Clay County Schools’ staff and pour into a school system that helped shape me into the person I am.”
Ledford enjoys working with different classrooms across grade levels. “Although it can be a challenge to balance it all,” she explained. “It provides me the opportunity to work with many different students and teachers. I get to take part in classroom activities and observe creative lessons my coworkers have created, all while getting to know and work with students. Additionally, I have a fantastic work family I enjoy collaborating with. Teaching provides you with many opportunities to create, so getting to do that with friends and working together to make school a great place to be is incredibly rewarding.”
She shared why she chose to teach. “I decided to become a teacher after being inspired by a remarkable woman and leader whom I’ve always wanted an opportunity to express my appreciation for,” she said. “I’m sure she was, and is, completely unaware of the lasting impression she left on me. Throughout my educational journey, I was extremely lucky to have amazing teachers. Though each influenced me in their own way, one teacher in particular left a profound impression — my high school English teacher, Karen Hazelwood. I didn’t decide until early in my college career that teaching was the direction I wanted to go, but looking back I can see how her influence played a pivotal role in the teacher I have become. Ms. Hazelwood was spectacular in engaging her students and earning their respect. You truly wanted to do your best for her and work up to the potential she saw in you. She made reading fun, even when it was poetry, and taught me how to add a little dazzle into my own writing. Ms. Hazelwood, if you’re reading this, thank you.”
When asked about a favorite memory, she smiled, “There are so many. I think choosing a favorite thing is probably the most obvious and easiest choice for me,” she said. “In 2017, I received the go-ahead to start a classroom-based business to sell coffee to HES employees. We named our business Busy Beans Coffee and developed a business plan that allowed students to play an active role in running a business. Busy Beans Coffee started small,with just one Keurig and a few creamer options. Now we require 2-3 Keurigs, offer multiple drink choices and have countless options for creamers and other sweeteners. Occasionally, we will create sweet treats on holidays to sell separately. Each Thursday we send out a Google Form so staff may order. Our fifth grade students will work in their designated job that day to fill each order. Students rotate jobs and have the opportunity to experience each working part of the business. We regularly discuss business needs to continue to be successful and make plans to stay relevant and maintain the interest of the customers. Busy Beans teaches the students the importance of positive work ethic, how to communicate professionally, the practical application of currency exchanges, problem solving skills and much more. The classroom-based business provides students with something special the classroom has to offer them and gives them incentive to show up, ready to learn each and every day.”
The Hayesville grad attended Kennesaw State University before transferring to Western Carolina University. She did her student teaching at Murphy Middle School with Mary Beth Cornwell. “I was able to learn so much from her and her students,” Ledford said.
“I am married to Blake Ledford and we have two beautiful children, seven-year-old Tate and two-year-old Greer,” she added. “They keep us on our toes and fill our lives with so much joy. I feel incredibly blessed every day to be where I am and share my life with the people around me. I look so forward to being able to participate in the exciting future of Clay County Schools and especially Hayesville Elementary School.”
She continued. “I know I am not alone in hoping all of my students not only learn, but feel loved. I want them to feel successful and know they are capable of learning. School and life can be difficult for some of the students. For them to know you cared enough to invest in their future may be what provides them with courage and desire to keep moving forward in their education.”
Ledford ended, “I feel honored to have been selected as this year’s HES Teacher of the Year. I am thankful to work with such loving and supportive people who inspire and push me daily to be the best teacher I can be.”
Staten has been a kindergarten teacher with Clay County Schools for 17 years. “I think I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” she said. “In fact, I strongly believe teaching is a calling and that from a young age, God used others to plant the seeds that would grow me into the educator I am today.”
She continued, “When I was little, before you could just print off handwriting sheets or buy them, my sweet mama would make me all sorts of school work to do at home. I remember I had a wooden dowel rod I would use as a pointer and I would teach my stuffed animals. When I got slightly older and had to study for tests, my dad would make a game out of it. If I got a study question right I could select a door, like in “Let’s Make a Deal.” My dad was always so silly and had Zonks like toilet paper hidden behind the doors,” she laughed. “My parents valued my education and made learning fun. As an adult, I recognize just how fortunate I was to have such an amazing support system at home. It became my goal to provide students with this same level of care at school.”
When asked what she enjoys most about teaching, she replied. “I love that every day is a new adventure and a fresh start. People sometimes ask me if I’m bored of teaching the same grade but that’s the beauty of what I do. No day, no year, no child, is the same.”
She shared a favorite memory. “When I graduated from college, I came straight back to Hayesville to teach. To my delight, when I received placement, I was assigned to the classroom directly next to my kindergarten teacher, Denise Lunsford. I was blessed to work with Denise for 12 years before she retired. I can’t think of a more awesome way to start my career or a better mentor.”
Staten attended Clay County Schools from kindergarten through grade 12. “I love this community and am so fortunate to work and live here. I’m an only child and very close with my parents, so leaving this area long-term was never an option,” she said. “Luckily my husband, Chuck, became just as enamored with this region and happily moved here. We now have three beautiful, highly spirited children, Eddie, 10, Avery, 8, and Aubree, 5. I spend most nights shuttling kiddos back and forth between their multitude of extracurricular activities and visiting drive-thru’s more frequently than I like to admit. It’s a beautiful season in my life and I’m trying my best to soak it all in.”
She wants every student to feel loved. “I want every student who steps foot in my room to know they are loved unconditionally,” she said. “I want them to feel confident to try new things and make mistakes and know I am their cheerleader in the classroom. I just want to help build these kids up and give them a happy, safe place to spend their days.”
Staten added. “After answering all these questions, I feel like it sounds a little glamorous — making a difference in the life of a child, but it’s also messy. It’s a lot of worry and tears and blunders. It is oh so worth it. I want to thank my colleagues who have got me through the rough days and have seen me at my lowest and still saw fit to call me Teacher of the Year. I will do my very best to live up to that title each day. I’m so proud and honored to represent Hayesville Primary School.”
More teachers profiled in next week's Progress.