For Kimberly “Paige” Lundy, teaching has always been about showing up for students who need it most.
Lundy, a behavior self-contained teacher at Hollis Hand Elementary School, was recently named the school’s Teacher of the Year, an honor she describes as truly humbling.
“Our school really is a special place to be, filled with incredible teachers who inspire me every day with their dedication and the way they care for every student,” Lundy said. “To be recognized alongside such a talented group is truly humbling, and it makes me proud to be part of a school with such a rich tradition and supportive community.”
“It also meant the world to me to have one of my amazing paraprofessionals, Akail Deloach, named Support Staff of the Year,” she added. “It was a truly special day for us in our classroom.”
Lundy is now in her 23rd year in education, all of them spent in the Troup County School System (TCSS). She has served at Hollis Hand Elementary for the past nine years, where she works daily to help students build trust, form positive relationships, learn coping strategies and believe in themselves.
“The most rewarding part of teaching students with emotional and behavioral disorders is watching them build trust and form positive relationships with me, my paraprofessionals, administration and their general education teachers,” Lundy said. “When a student who once struggled to trust adults begins to open, learn strategies to manage their emotions and believe in themselves, it’s incredibly meaningful.”
“Those moments when they are able to make better choices, use coping strategies, or simply get through a tough day are huge successes,” she added. “It’s also rewarding knowing that the impact goes beyond academics. Seeing them feel supported, valued and proud of themselves is what makes this work so special.”
For Lundy, the most challenging part of being a self-contained behavior teacher is meeting each student’s unique academic and emotional needs while managing behaviors in the classroom.
“Every student is different, and what works for one may not work for another, so it takes lots of patience and flexibility,” she said. “I am so grateful to have two amazing paraprofessionals in my room to collaborate with. At the end of the day, we debrief and often have to go back to the drawing board to create new ideas and ways to meet the students’ needs.”
Lundy was inspired to become an educator because of her mother, Ruth Perdue, who also taught at TCSS. Growing up, she saw how much her mother cared about her students.
“She put so much time, energy and heart into her children and classroom, and it really impacted me,” Lundy shared. “Seeing the relationships she built and the difference she made in her students’ lives is what pushed me toward becoming an educator too.”
