2012 - Regional Teacher of the Year - Beth Mahugh

Beth is in her 6th year at John Campbell Elementary where she teaches 4th grade. Beth’s route to teaching has been rather circuitous. She grew up in a trailer in rural North Carolina as a self described rebel determined to attend college despite her father’s protests. She became a CPA with a successful small business, but Beth always knew there was something missing so she returned to school to become an elementary teacher.



At John Campbell, Beth focuses on building the confidence of her students and creating a safe place to risk failure on the road to understanding. She is constantly searching out ways for greater collaboration. Recently, Beth has been instrumental in transitioning her school to a collaborative Response to Intervention model. She also sits on the district’s vertical Social Studies committee.



Beth is the kind of teacher and person who looks for the holes that need filling. As the chair of her school’s social studies committee, on district committees, in church activities or cub scouts, Beth brings the same enthusiastic “can do” attitude into every project.



Even Beth’s own recent battle with cancer couldn’t eclipse her positive energy (though it did slow her down a bit). Parents, colleague and students marveled at her strength and continue to be inspired by her commitment to life and her work as a teacher.