Teacher of the Year is the award granted to the teacher who has gone above and beyond in his or her duties, earning schoolwide recognition of the teacher’s actions. Tupelo High School has declared this year’s Teacher of the Year to be April Friar, Dual Credit and English IV teacher. She was also named Teacher of the Year for the Tupelo Public School District.

Friar first learned she had won the award during an English department meeting. She said she had not expected to receive the peer-selected award and was initially caught off-guard at the revelation.

“It was so unexpected.” Friar said. “Initially there were no distinct feelings or emotions. It was a mixture of everything, but I am very humbled and appreciative.”

Friar has taught at THS for 11 years. She said she always aspired to be a teacher.

“I chose to be a teacher because I enjoy literature, and the idea of exposing students to literature and writing appeals to me,” Friar said. “Teaching just seemed the right thing to do. I love teaching. I love the students. I know that sounds cliche, but I really do. I love learning. I learn things from my students all the time.”

Teaching, however, is not restricted to a formal classroom. It is not only teachers in the school system who impart knowledge to others. Everyone has the capacity to be a teacher. Friar’s own passion for teaching stems from the lessons her parents passed on to her.

“Although my parents are not educators in the sense of the schools’ systems, they were my first teachers,” Friar said. “There’s something about the way they impart knowledge that makes me want to be a teacher. I just feel like we’re always being taught. We are all teachers.”

Friar is loved by her students, and her class is highly recommended by her pupils.

“Ms. Friar is a really cool person,” said senior Lauren Losordo, a former student of Friar. “She is just herself. She prepared us well for college, and she always encouraged us to do our best.”

Neely Brown, another senior and former student, is a fan of Friar’s class.

“I think that Ms. Friar taught me a lot, and I wouldn’t have been able to get through senior project without her,” Brown said.

Despite her students’ love for her, Friar emphasized that she did not want to be the only one in the spotlight.

“It’s not about me,” she said. “It’s an effort by all: students, parents, colleagues, administration. There’s no one thing I have done solely to deserve this recognition.”