BIBB COUNTY, Ga. — In Sarah Mallet's classroom at Howard Middle School, students have a voice.
She teaches audio, video, technology and film. Her class is responsible for delivering the school announcements, a weekly newsletter and creating video projects.
Mallett said she doesn't do this work for the recognition.
"I do what I do because I absolutely love every single one of our children,” she said. “I want to see every single one of them succeed in their own way. So for me, wearing it is an honor and I will still cherish that honor but for me, even if I didn't I would still love our children the same way."
Mallett said getting district teacher of the year left her in shock.
"Honestly, I'm just honored and blessed to be able to be a voice for my school, for my district and for our students," she said.
She's only entering her fourth year teaching, but for her, it is a way of life. She is a third-generation educator.
"My grandfather was a high school teacher, my mom has been a teacher and is now an assistant principal in the district as well so for me, I feel like I almost grew up in the schools," she said.
Mallett said growing up, schools felt like her safe place. Howard Middle School Principal Tony Jones said Mallett's honor is no surprise.
"She just epitomizes what we want a Howard Husky to look like and act like and do,” Jones said. “We're here to help our students find their voices on their journey of learning and she does that every day."
It’s a journey that Mallett recognizes can be a challenging one for students. Her personal motto is about keeping students from being left out.
“Every student that comes in knows that no matter who you are, or where you come from, you have a seat at my table,” she said. “I do not believe that tables get full. I believe that you just have to pull up another chair. Because no matter who you meet, there's a purpose for them to sit at your table, there is a purpose for you to hear their voice. So for me, I just make the table bigger. We never run out of seats."