By Emmanuel Johnson

For Baylee Lowery, being named teacher of the year here at Galileo means more than just bragging rights. It’s a wholesome moment. As a former Galileo student who graduated back in 2018, Lowery returned here as an English teacher and earned recognition from the teachers who once taught her.

“I really am thankful and grateful for the opportunity,” Lowery said. “It’s really special”

Now in her fourth year of teaching, Lowery says her experience in high school inspired her to become a teacher. She remembers the teachers who made school welcoming and helped her develop a love for English. Today, she wants to give her students that same experience.

“I really wanted to circle back around and give my kids the experience I had with my teachers in high school,” Lowery said.

For her, teaching is more than just simply books and assignments. Building connections with students is a major part of helping them succeed. She believes students learn best when they know that their teacher genuinely cares about them.

“It is really important to create relationships with students and have them know you are there for them and you care about them,” she said.

Since her first year, Lowery has become much more confident in the classroom and learned how to overcome the challenges of teaching. Despite the demanding workload, she still remains motivated by watching her students grow and succeed.

“Seeing the way they learn and grow is what makes me want to keep teaching,” Lowery said. 

All the way from a student, to an educator, Lowrey’s career represents the lasting impact of a good community at Galileo. Her award recognizes not only her work in the classroom, but also the relationships she built along the way.