Amy Sweets, a beloved choir teacher, has been honored with the Millard Public Schools Award of Excellence in High School Teaching, often referred to as “Teacher of the Year.”
The surprise announcement came during her Cantori class, leaving the usually talkative Sweets speechless.
“I was shocked! I am the talker but I had nothing to say,” she chuckled. This award recognizes her unwavering dedication to her students, her infectious passion for music, and her remarkable ability to cultivate a nurturing environment where students thrive.
Sweets says she was deeply inspired by her freshman English teacher, who creatively catered to different learning styles. This experience sparked her passion for teaching, which eventually evolved into a love for music. By her senior year, music dominated her schedule, and her involvement in the Missouri all-state choir solidified her desire to pursue a career in music education. For Sweets, making music is essential to her well-being, and sharing this passion with others is both fulfilling and motivating. Her drive to teach is fueled by the joy and enthusiasm of her students.
“I am motivated by my students; they are fabulous!” Sweets says.
Reflecting on her teaching journey, Sweets humbly shares her approach to education. She emphasizes the importance of being a supportive and honest figure for her students.
“I don’t think I have done one extraordinary act,” she says. “I just try to show up and be a caring, loving, and honest adult presence for my students. It could be listening to goofy stories or helping a student find the resource to make their life better. I am just trying to do what I can to help others.”
Sweets acknowledges a significant shift in her focus over the years of her career. While she initially focused on the music, performances, and extracurricular activities. However, over time, she discovered that the true heart of her work lies in her students.
“My teaching evolved because originally as I started out I was so passionate about the music and the experiences and the performances and the extracurriculars that was what was driving me. But it didn’t take long in my career to discover that it was about the students. Being able to connect, giving them the safe space to make mistakes and to make beautiful music. To encourage students to be themselves and to have them become better people,” she shared.
Jason Stevens, the head choir teacher, expressed his delight and admiration for Sweets’ recognition.
“I loved it. She does an awesome job, definitely well deserved. It also makes me laugh because she hates recognition,” he commented.
Many students have expressed their gratitude and admiration for Sweets, emphasizing how deserving she is of the “Teacher Of The Year” award.
Freshman Sophia Anderson shares, “She is honestly an amazing teacher. She gets so excited to teach us and actually makes me happy to learn. She is always so positive and she makes sure we are in a good mood. I am so happy for her, she deserves this so much. She has always made our days better, and I can’t express how much she deserves this.”
Similarly, senior Bre Gomez adds, “I feel it’s beyond deserved. She has cared and continued to show she cares for her students whether it be a problem in music or a question about Early College. She is an amazing example of what it means to be a teacher.”
Echoing these sentiments, junior Adalyn Jensen remarks, “Sweets deserves to win teacher of the year because she’s more than just that. Sweets is the woman whose heart is 10x bigger, she loves so deeply and cares so much about each and every one of us. She will spend hours upon hours here at school with us for show choir, even when she has her own kids to worry about. She will let us sit in her office and cry, or rant, or just take a break. She gets to know us unlike any other teacher and she cares for us like we are her kids. Sweets deserves to earn teacher of the year, because of her heart. Truly, she’s like a second mom.”
Sweets’ dedication, passion, and genuine care for her students have undoubtedly made a profound impact on the Millard South High School community, making her a well-deserving recipient of the Millard Public Schools Award of Excellence in High School Teaching.
