Carlisle Elementary’s Sullenger named Teacher of the Month

When your math class is interrupted by the principal and some strangers, you know something’s up! That’s what happened last week at Carlisle County Elementary School as 3^rd grade teacher Payton Sullenger was awarded the West Kentucky Star Teacher of the Month Award for February.

As shocked as the students were, Ms. Sullenger was even more surprised. Teaching has always been her dream job. “I can remember pulling my brother into my room and drawing on the chalkboard and making him listen to me. That was the starting point,” said Sullenger. Would she teach forever if she could? “Absolutely!” And would she teach at Carlisle County Elementary forever: “Yes, I love my coworkers!”

She has all third-graders at some point during the day as they rotate through her classroom. While she enjoys the hands-on aspect of teaching math, she really loves teaching reading. Like most teachers, she works with students outside the classroom as well, serving as the Academic Coach for the 3^rd through 5^th grades. Payton Sullenger definitely has a long teaching career ahead of her and her message to students is “I want them to leave my room knowing that they have someone that really cares for them and they can come to me for anything.”

The award, sponsored by Scott Walker Construction, will continue through each month of the school year. All 10 Teachers of the Month from the 2022-2023 school year will be considered for the favorite teacher in the 2023 West Kentucky Star Teacher of the Year.

You can nominate your favorite teacher for March by clicking here.

Pictured above: Chris Morgan of Scott Walker Construction presents the February Teacher of the Month Award to Carlisle County Elementary School’s Payton Sullenger. She is joined by her daughter Paisley (front) and boyfriend Zach McAfee (right).