Latash King won the award for Teacher of the Year at Lively Middle School for the year 2024-25.
“It’s gonna sound so rude if I say I don’t like it. It’s just that I don’t like to be in the center spotlight or anything. I’m happy that people felt like I earned that title, but at the end of the day, for me, it’s more than that, but I guess it feels good,” said King, “I think I won, because I’m nice and helpful, I definitely have a really good professional side, even if I don’t get along with somebody’s doing I don’t let that take over. I put my professionalism first all the time, but I’m very helpful. I’m funny, I’m nice and I’m very blunt. I tell people things like they are, which can be a good thing and a bad thing sometimes. And I think, for whatever reason, I’m very popular with the students, and I think that’s because I’m just understanding.”
Many teachers were very supportive of Ms. King getting this award.
“I think Ms. King deserved to win the teacher of the year because she tries her best every single day and is a volleyball coach, a cheer coach, and a mom on top of it all,” said 6th grade science teacher Darby Stillwell.
“Ms. King goes above and beyond, she’s a cheer coach, she’s a volleyball coach, she’s always part of the students’ lives. Inside and outside school, so I think she deserved it,” said 6th grade math teacher Ashley Garza.
Even though admin were not allowed to vote, they definitely seemed happy with the choice. “Ms. King brings a lot of joy to our campus and she dedicates her time inside and outside of school to create opportunities for students,” said Magnet Director Shayna Tipton.
“Ms. King builds extremely impactful relationships with all of her students and they feel very connected to her,” said Lively Principal Melissa Rodriguez.
Students were also not allowed to vote, but also seemed happy with King as the final winner. “Ms. King really cares about her students, not just inside of school, but she also cares for them outside of school. Like, she makes her students feel like they’re in a family with her, and she’s always nice and she’s always supportive of all the students,” said 8th grader Olivia Patrin, who is a cheerleader on Ms. King’s cheer team.
“I think she won the teacher of the year because she’s optimistic, super sweet, and she really knows how to engage people,” said 8th grader Fiona Bucco, another cheerleader on King’s team.
When asked why she decided to be a teacher, King explained a wise story of how she changed her career: “Actually, I was pre-med so I have a minor in science because I was pre-med for about a year and a half, so a lot of science under my belt. Then I started volunteering at a youth center and stuff and then it just changed my perspective pretty much. So it’s not something I always wanted to do. I have always wanted to be a doctor.”
