In more education news, Kentucky recognized its newest teacher of the year earlier this month, so we wanted to explore what makes this educators stand out.

Our Emily Prince takes us to Northern Kentucky for a glimpse inside Miss Molly Stafford's classroom.

My first period I have 29 boys and two girls.

God love them.

And for the whole week, every time I would walk in the room, they would stand up and cheer.

Those senior students at Beachwood High School cheered for Mrs.

Molly Siefert after she was announced as Kentucky's 2027 teacher of the year.

Siefert has been with Beechwood Independent School District for more than 20 years, currently as a senior English teacher.

Post-it note here's all the feelings that he's having.

She said the teacher of the year recognition was certainly not expected.

It was an absolute surprise.

On the drive down there, my son called me and said, mom, have you prepared any words in case you do win?

And I said, no, son, I haven't.

Really?

I thought it wasn't going to happen.

He was like, mom, I think you should maybe pull out a note card and just jot down a few words, just in case.

Stafford's principal said the news wasn't quite as much of a shock to the rest of the community.

Everyone was thrilled.

Really excited for Missy for it, but no one was surprised.

So what makes the Northern Kentucky teacher stand out?

One senior said it wasn't just her lesson plans, but her character.

You know that you're safe in this room.

You're never going to be judged in this room, missy, for it's always going to have your back.

My philosophy is to make sure that every kid feels good about himself when he or she leaves the classroom every day.

Do you feel good about yourself?

Do you feel good about what you've done?

Do you feel cared for?

I tell the kids all the time, I care more about you as a human being than I do care about your reading and writing skills.

Of course I care about your reading and writing skills.

But what's more important to me is are you a kind human?

A few years ago, Siefert made the jump from teaching freshmen to seniors.

I had this moment of, do I try something new this late in my career?

Or do I want to stick teaching this group that I know that I liked?

And so I went for it.

I'm so glad that I did.

I love 17, 18 year olds who are right on the cusp of, you know, going out to do whatever the next thing is.

Seaford Classroom is decorated with brightly colored bricks, displaying where her students journeys will take them next.

I just get such joy to look at these names and remember the great relationships that I've had with these students.

I'm like, honored to have these bricks in my classroom.

I think she looks at each student and finds the potential, and helps pull that potential out of the student, makes them feel seen for whatever their strengths are.

On top of teaching AP Literature and English for Seaford also leads an extra curricular.

My very favorite thing in my entire career is to be a speech and debate coach.

I love that the most and there's no secret there.

But those extra commitments take plenty of time and effort.

To have people like myself for who are going to volunteer.

And it's pretty much volunteer, you know, for the amount of work that that teachers do outside of the classroom.

It's a lot of time on your own before and after school.

It's a lot of time on the weekends.

This past week, I've been trying to find the perfect script for every single 40 members of my speech and debate team.

That includes Cohen Yap, captain of the team who said, just this weekend, Siefert created an outline full of different speech and debate ideas.

You know, actions speak louder than words.

And she's so loud in both of those ways.

You just know that she needs to look at me.

I love you so much.

In Fort Mitchell for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Emily Prince.

We'll have.

A lot of.

Inspiring story there.

We'll miss.

Siefert said her platform is centered around empowering student voices, a fitting mission.

As the speech and debate coach.