Asbury Alum Receives 2025 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Award
September 24, 2024
Asbury alumna Jennifer Puckett ’01 Montgomery recently received the 2025 Kentucky Teacher of the Year award from the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). This year marked Montgomery’s 23rd year of teaching, with her current role as English teacher at Eminence Independent Middle School.
“Winning Kentucky Teacher of the Year is an honor, but it is a shared honor,” said Montgomery, who graduated from Asbury with an English major before pursuing additional education. “I didn’t win this title on my own, but through shared experiences with colleagues, administrators, family members, community members, friends, and students who have all shaped my journey. Teaching is an art. I like to think of it as a tapestry, filled with threads of thousands of experiences I have had over the last two decades, both good and bad, which the Lord has woven together to create something that only He could.”
She added that it wasn’t until the second semester of her senior year at Asbury that she decided to pursue education.
“I took an ESL class that I still remember to this day. Asbury taught me to think critically and to view everything through a biblical perspective,” Montgomery said. “I had phenomenal professors (like Dr. Daniel Strait) who invested in me personally, encouraging me, challenging me, and believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
Asbury’s Dean of the School of Education Dr. Sharon Bixler shares her congratulations to Montgomery.
“It is a tremendous honor for Asbury to have Jennifer recognized as the 2025 Kentucky Teacher of the Year,” Bixler said. “At Asbury, we strive to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and passion for teaching through a rigorous curriculum, mentorship from dedicated faculty, and hands-on clinical experiences. This combination empowers graduates to make a meaningful impact in their schools and communities.”
Montgomery reflects on teaching middle school.
“I believe the most important aspect of teaching is connection: connecting with students, connecting with colleagues, and connecting with the community,” she said. “We crave human connection and yet people are oftentimes very disconnected, even from people they spend hours with each day. At the end of the day, we must remember that our ‘why’ is the student sitting right in front of us. If we don’t have time for them, then we’ve really missed the mark.”
Asbury University offers Traditional and Online Undergraduate programs in Education; the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree for initial certification; and M.A. programs in English as a Second Language Endorsement, Learning and Behavior Disorders, Literacy Specialist P-12, and Principal Licensure. Additional degree programs include the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Principal Licensure with Instructional Supervisor (dual licensure) and certifications for Director of Pupil Personnel, Instructional Supervisor, and School Superintendent. Learn more.