Social studies and German teacher Hillary Wyatt—Langham Creek’s ‘teacher of the year’—will be highlighted at a celebratory dinner in March sponsored by the district.
Wyatt has been nominated on several occasions throughout her time at Langham, but was finally announced the winner by teacher vote 3 weeks ago at a staff meeting.
“I never expected to win, so it was a complete shock,” Wyatt said. “I didn’t really think that was my name up there, but it was quite an honor, and everyone around me was very supportive and excited.”
The dinner will be dedicated to teachers across the district who have been awarded as their campus’s respective Teacher of the Year. Each spotlighted teacher will be interviewed and will produce a video demonstration of their teaching.
Wyatt is the sole German teacher at Langham and teaches World History AP.
“I love the community that we build, especially with my Germans going all four years,” Wyatt said. “They just have a really tight-knit group.”
From an early age, she was interested in teaching.
“I always loved learning, just growing up in school, [I] wanted to learn it all, and so there was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to become a teacher,” Wyatt said.
While an avid autodidact, she learns just as much from her students and colleagues.
“I really get humbled a little bit from the students because you see them, and they just soak in everything that you teach them,” Wyatt said. “They come back with their own knowledge and their own excitement, and they’ll remember things you said six months ago, and you forgot two minutes later.”
Wyatt’s place in the history department has also fostered a significant impact.
“They [history department teams] are a strong, close-knit team where they work together,” Wyatt said. “They help each other; they’re always there, willing to get inside and discuss how to change things. I have a new team this year with Mr. Notten, and he is just so generous with all his advice and tips, so it has been amazing seeing the camaraderie here at Langham.”
Wyatt is also the coordinator for UIL Academic Events and the individual sponsor for UIL Social Studies and Spelling, where she works with students to prepare for UIL competitions at local, regional, and state meets.
“It’s just fun to see them care and want to get in-depth,” Wyatt said.
While ‘Teacher of the Year’ is decided by teacher vote, the relationship Wyatt developed with her students has been an integral facet of her significance at Langham.
“I hope that they always look back fondly on the class as that place where they felt safe and got to enjoy life a little bit,” Wyatt said. “I’ve had students either email me, or I see them out in Houston, and they remember me, and they’re all smiles, moved, teared-up, thinking back to the school and the friendships they formed and the fun they had. Hopefully, they remember at least one fact from class.”
