Msgr. Kelly High School Teacher Wins AM Award

Msgr. Kelly Catholic High School teacher Jerrilynn Miller was honored with the Beaumont A&M Club Outstanding Classroom Teacher Award at a dinner at the St. Jude Thaddeus Family Life Center on Sept. 27. The award is intended to recognize innovative and results-oriented teachers and to raise public awareness of the importance of effective and committed teachers.
Miller said her inspiration came from her grandmother, who was not only a teacher but actually Miller’s first-grade teacher. Miller said her favorite part about teaching is the students, and she feels especially proud to be teaching exceptional students at Msgr. Kelly Catholic High School.
Miller said she is proudest of her students when she sees them “participating in Mass.” She said she loves seeing them “being active in the Mass and singing.” Miller said she admires her student’s strong faith and values.
Miller teaches English I College Prep, Pre-AP and Holocaust Literature. Miller serves as advisor for Anchor Club, Mural Club and the Gnip Gnop (Ping Pong) Club. Miller has three children and five grandchildren.
Six other Beaumont teachers were also honored including Yvette Drake from Charlton Pollard Elementary School, Becky Diane Simmons from Odom Middle School, Melissa A. Fontenot from Central Medical Magnet High School, Shonte’ Leonard from Ozen Magnet High School, Vickie McCown from West Brook High School and Jola Kay Waggener from the Paul Brown Center. Teachers are nominated for the award by other teachers at their respective schools.
Each recipient received a special engraved silver tray, a certificate of appreciation and a check from the John K. Mattingly Memorial Fund. John K. Mattingly was a West Brook High School student who had been accepted to Texas A&M but died in a car wreck his senior year in high school. The Mattingly family donates the money for the awards in his memory.