{"id":44230,"date":"2023-09-13T11:26:45","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T16:26:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/?p=44230"},"modified":"2023-09-13T11:26:45","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T16:26:45","slug":"2023-teacher-of-the-year-winner-isaac-fudge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/blog\/insights\/2023-teacher-of-the-year-winner-isaac-fudge\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Teacher of the Year Winner – Isaac Fudge"},"content":{"rendered":"

After tallying all the votes, we are thrilled to announce Isaac Fudge of Richmond, Texas <\/strong>as the winner of our 2023 Teacher of the Year contest and $5,000 grand prize!<\/p>\n

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Dedication, passion, and the heart to inspire: these are the traits that define Isaac, this year’s Teacher of the Year.<\/p>\n

Isaac shared some of his experiences and inspiration behind what led him to become a teacher and what drives his commitment to the classroom. Take a look below to learn more about this outstanding educator making an impact in his community!<\/p>\n

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1. Who or what inspired you to become a teacher<\/span>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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I was inspired to become a teacher<\/span>\u00a0by several people. Especially, my coaches that I had\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0High School and\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0college. Kevin Flanigan, Ray Karvis, Jeff Bowen, Joe Parker, and more. These men believed\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0me and\u00a0showed me that meaningful relationships and mentoring young people, is extremely important\u00a0and impactful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span>\u00a0impact that they made\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0my life, helped shape me into\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0man that I am today. I decided to give back and help share this with\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0next generation\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0young people and\u00a0do my part\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0educating them.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

2. How did you learn about ToT and why did you choose it as your ACP?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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I learned about Teachers<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0Tomorrow<\/a> through\u00a0several colleagues and education professionals.\u00a0Teachers<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0Tomorrow has\u00a0an outstanding\u00a0reputation and track record\u00a0that precedes\u00a0itself. I was told that\u00a0Teachers<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0tomorrow is\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0most thorough, yet practical ACP\u00a0for<\/span>\u00a0educators, and I found this to be true. <\/span><\/p>\n

I greatly enjoyed\u00a0my experience with\u00a0Teachers<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0Tomorrow, and highly recommend them as\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0go-to,\u00a0Tier 1 ACP\u00a0for<\/span>\u00a0aspiring educators.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

3. What words of<\/span>\u00a0advice do you have\u00a0for<\/span>\u00a0new or aspiring educators?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Know going in<\/span>, that kids can\u00a0subconsciously\u00a0sniff out when people are being disingenuous, like no other. Be yourself, be genuine, and be intentional, each and every day.\u00a0Understand\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0importance\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0being an\u00a0educator<\/span>, and\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0lifelong\u00a0knowledge and memories that you are a part\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0students’\u00a0lives. <\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t\u00a0forget what it\u2019s\u00a0like to be sitting\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0their seats. Drop\u00a0everything at\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0door each day and be present\u00a0for<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0students. Always over prepare, and never have an ego.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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4. What is your favorite thing about being an educator<\/span>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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This profession is a purpose driven career. It brings great amounts\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0fulfillment on a daily basis.\u00a0I didn\u2019t\u00a0think that I would be\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0this career when I was\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0college. But now, I couldn\u2019t\u00a0imagine myself doing anything different.\u00a0The<\/span>\u00a0life skills, and lessons that you teach today\u2019s youth, are amazing when you see them using them, and benefiting\u00a0from<\/span>\u00a0them. But\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0mentorship,\u00a0and relationships are beyond what you can put into words.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Young people just want genuine and quality adults to look up to and be around. If you can do that and\u00a0be intentional daily with their best interest\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0mind, you will go home feeling fulfilled daily.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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5. Is there anything else you would like to share regarding your journey as an educator<\/span>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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I am very grateful, and a very blessed man. I get to work in<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0best career that there is. Each and every day has its\u00a0challenges\u00a0and rewards, and no day is\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0same as before.\u00a0This job keeps you ready to come back\u00a0for<\/span>\u00a0more every day.\u00a0Seeing graduated students having success\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0their adult life brings it all back full circle, and provides\u00a0reminders\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0big picture, and how we help young people achieve success, and chase their dreams.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Celebrating Isaac’s Journey<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Isaac Fudge’s journey is a testament to the profound impact one educator can have on countless lives. Through dedication and passion, he reminds us that teaching is not just a profession, but a calling that shapes the future.<\/p>\n

As Helen Caldicott once remarked, “Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible and important members of society because their professional efforts affect the fate of the Earth.” <\/strong><\/p>\n

Let us celebrate and draw inspiration from Isaac’s unwavering commitment to fostering a love of learning in every student he encounters.<\/p>\n

Congratulations, Isaac!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After tallying all the votes, we are thrilled to announce Isaac Fudge of Richmond, Texas as the winner of our 2023 Teacher of the Year contest and $5,000 grand prize! …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":44246,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/media\/TOTY-2023-RMD-2.jpeg","publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2024-05-23 09:29:52","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44230"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/60"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44230"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44252,"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44230\/revisions\/44252"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}