'She makes every kid believe in themselves': Meet Santa Rosa County's Teacher of the Year

Long before Karen Cody was named Santa Rosa County Teacher of the Year Wednesday morning, her students had plastered the walls with handmade posters guiding the way to her Algebra I classroom in Navarre High School.

Even if a student had never had Cody as their teacher before, they knew her face and reputation from the printed poster hung by the masses to spread word of her nomination.

Navarre High School Principal Kasie Windfelder knew the moment she caught glimpse of District Superintendent Karen Barber with an arm full of flowers in the main office — the victory had been won.

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“Ms. Cody is absolutely worthy of this honor," Windfelder said. "She represents the finest here at Navarre High School. She welcomes everyone like one of the students said — with open arms. She’s caring, loving and considerate. Not everyone loves math, but when you come into her classroom, she gets students to work for her. They love her, they adore her. She respects them, they respect her. It’s just really beautiful relationship she has with her students.”

As Barber asked Cody’s students why they felt their teacher was so deserving, their responses were not centered around Cody’s ability to break down linear equations. Instead, they remembered her ability to make them feel safe and cared for.

Past Chairman of the Santa Rosa Education Foundation Bubba Drinkard said that despite the tough competition of candidates, this “genuine” sincerity for her students was ultimately what put her on top.

“I think ‘genuine’ is probably the best word. She is so dedicated to her students. She reaches every one of them individually, you wouldn’t necessarily notice,” Drinkard said. “She is all about the students.”

As part of the selection process, he said the committee sat in on 20 minutes of her class, and also conducted a 20-minute interview with her to factor into their decision. Wednesday, a crowd of spectators, including school board members and the Santa Rosa Education Foundation, followed hot on Barber’s heels to surprise Cody in front of her students.

From classroom volunteer to math extraordinaire

Cody’s road to becoming Teacher of the Year was decades in the making, as she started as a school volunteer when her children, now nearing their late 30s, were in kindergarten. She worked her way up in experience as a paraprofessional for 15 years at Navarre High School and earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, then signed on as a teacher about seven years ago.

Barber was working as a Navarre High School teacher at the same time Cody was there as a paraprofessional, and Barber said even then Cody possessed all the characteristics necessary for becoming a successful classroom teacher.

“It’s been a lifelong, circuitous journey to get to this point. It’s been a meandering path,” Cody said.

Cody has been a steady presence in Navarre High School from the school’s beginning, even taking a sledgehammer to knock down walls to lengthen the school when it was first starting out. Now, it is surreal to her how much she has been able to accomplish since.

“I feel like Miss Universe,” Cody gushed as camera shutters snapped photos of her under a bright purple banner.

Cody noted that though she is appreciative of the recognition, there are many other talented and deserving teachers in Navarre High School alone.

She wiped away tears as the announcement hit the school intercom and cheers ricocheted through the halls.

“(Cody) is one of the most extraordinary educators I have ever had the pleasure of working with,” Barber said. “I’m just extremely proud of her. I know her heart and I know how much she loves her students, and how she makes very difficult math instruction accessible to every kid. She makes every kid believe in themselves so they can do it.”

Cody will move on to the state Teacher of the Year competition which will select a winner in May. The National Teacher of the Year will be announced next January.

“She (Cody) will really represent us well at the state level,” Barber said.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Karen Cody selected as Santa Rosa County Teacher of the Year