Tilary Curry is the 2014 Teacher of the Year at Liberty Middle School. She teaches eighth-grade math and algebra. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Tilary Curry, who teaches eighth-grade math and algebra, is the 2014 Teacher of the Year at Liberty Middle School.

Curry serves as math department chair on the math leadership and strategic teaching teams. She has taught the Liberty Lions for seven years. Students voted her “Most Inspirational Teacher.”

Every year, Curry strives to boost students’ confidence in mathematics. “Math tends to be one of the most hated subjects in school,” she said. “It never fails that I have multiple students whom enter my classroom each year that are defeated by math.”

“In addition to teaching skills and concepts, I put just as much effort into nurturing my students to be their best,” Curry said.

Watching former students graduate from high school is her job’s most rewarding aspect. “I make it a goal every year to attend commencement. It fills my heart with joy to know I’ve contributed to molding the awesome young person who stands before their family and peers to receive their diploma,” Curry said.

Motivating students lacking a proper home life can be challenging. “It’s quite difficult to give those students hope or break through their hard exterior when you appear to be an outsider,” Curry said. The task isn’t easy “but it’s possible to gain their trust.”

Curry always will remember her first mentor at Liberty. “No matter how much I doubted myself, she always saw potential in me. She played an intricate role in the teacher I am today,” she said.

Frequently, Curry and this retired mentor still talk. “I find solace in knowing she is still in my corner and I can learn from her,” Curry said.

Curry earned a bachelor’s degree in math at Alabama A&M University and a master’s degree in secondary curriculum and instruction at Middle Tennessee State University.

Her husband Nicklaus works as a logistician at Redstone Arsenal. Their children are Nicavian, 9, a third-grader at Heritage Elementary School and Raegan, 4, who attends Union Chapel Child Development Center.