MADISON – Suzanne Curry delights in creating opportunities to help her students grow and then celebrate that growth with students and their families. Curry is the “2022 Teacher of the Year” at Mill Creek Elementary School.

After college, Curry gained teaching experience overseas. “I was a part of a mission team in Prague in the Czech Republic and taught missionaries’ children on that team,” she said.

She then taught third-graders at David Lipscomb Elementary School in Nashville, Tenn. She served as Aide for Special Needs at Cedar Grove Elementary School in Smyrna, Tenn. After moving to Madison in 2017, Curry worked as Aide for the Early Beginnings Pre-Kindergarten at Mill Creek until hired to teach kindergartners at Mill Creek in fall 2018.

“I’m very passionate about young children learning through play . . . and learning through a variety of experiences,” Curry said. “I believe children need an environment with structure and flexibility to feel secure and learn.”

In one of Curry’s successes, she hosted ‘Family Nights’ in her classroom, before the constraints of COVID-19. “I planned one for the fall related to literacy and one in the spring related to math. My husband and daughter joined me,” Curry said.

Families brought food, and Curry prepared hands-on activities for parents and their children to do. “I loved being able to see my families meet each other and spend time together,” she said. “I am hopeful that I will be able to bring back Family Nights this coming school year.”

“A huge part of my teaching style is related to children’s imaginations. I like for my classroom to resemble a small town with businesses, such as a pet store, grocery store, construction company and school. I like for them to be able to apply/use what we’re learning about in those stations,” she said.

“Watching them and listening to them as they pretend, and as they truly do use what we are learning about, is incredibly exciting and rewarding,” Curry said.

Curry grew up in Knoxville, Tenn. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at David Lipscomb University in Nashville.

Her husband, James Curry, works for Summit 7 Systems. Their daughter Cate just finished her sophomore year at Bob Jones High School.

“A little-known fact about me is that I play the piano and enjoy composing music,” Suzanne said. “Truly, my hobby is teaching. I really enjoy planning new experiences for my students.”