After years of hard work and dedication, art teacher Eric Champion has been announced as Killough’s Teacher of the Year.

Champion is in his third year of teaching at Killough, and in his eighth year overall. When he was announced as Teacher of the Year, he was completely surprised.

“I stood in a line of outstanding finalists,” Champion said. “These are teaching rock stars. I am honored to be chosen, but to even suggest that I was more deserving than the other candidates is foolishness.”

Getting to be around the students every day is where Champion gets most of his motivation.

“I get to enjoy the company of some of the coolest people in the world [and] watch them grow in skills and relationships,” Champion said. “I get to be a part of the most formative memories they will have for the rest of their lives.”

It didn’t come as a surprise to many when it was announced that he won the award. Principal Pam Flores praises Champion for his teaching and interaction at the school.

“He is always the first person to work and one of the last to leave the building,” Flores said. “He is deserving because he is a leader and a model teacher for all. He not only teaches art at Killough, but he teaches all of us how to be a better person.”

Champion’s coworker, art teacher Mary Miller, was also among those not surprised that he was honored for his teaching.

“Mr. Champion is a good teacher because he cares about his students and he works really hard to help them understand an assignment or master a skill,” Miller said. “He makes himself available most of the day for kids who need help, and during block lunch he participates in three clubs a week.”

The love that Champion has for all students is a strong quality that makes him a deserving recipient of this award.

“Mr. Champion’s classroom is always filled with students [during the] morning, lunch and after school,” Flores said. “Some of the students are the students he has in class and others are just kids that love to be in such a motivating and positive place.”

Champion credits his success to his hardworking coworkers.

“The level of teachers at Killough is top tier,” Champion said. “I know for the students, it just feels like ‘these are teachers.’ They aren’t. They are good teachers. I’ve improved so much from the examples of my other [coworkers].”