Press release from the Humboldt County Office of Education:

Kelly Miller, an agriculture teacher at Arcata High School, has been named as the 2023 Humboldt County Teacher of the Year by the Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools, Michael Davies-Hughes.

“It is an honor to be selected as the 2023 Humboldt County Teacher of the Year,” Miller said. “It means a great deal to me to join many of my mentors and the talented educators who have received this award. Educators are essential in the development of our future. I am proud to be an educator.”

Miller was one of fifteen educators honored by the Humboldt County Office of Education with the Excellence in Teaching Award in May. The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes classroom teachers from Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade who have been identified as exemplary by their colleagues, students or school communities. Honorees must have a minimum of five years teaching experience.

Miller’s career began in 1996 as a first-grade teacher for Morris Elementary School. In 2015, Miller accepted the challenge of taking on an agriculture program at Northern Humboldt Union High School District that had seen a decline in enrollment. Under Miller’s leadership, the program has grown from 44 to 196 students over the past 8 years. The Arcata FFA Officer Team had this to say about Miller, “Mrs. Miller has demonstrated her dedication to our chapter in many ways by going above and beyond to serve and inspire our chapter and community. Mrs. Miller is devoted to her students and ensures that we all have access to amazing opportunities. She really cares about her students and gives them ample opportunities to succeed.”

Miller finds teaching students in this subject matter extremely rewarding as well.

“I say to people, ‘the best part of my job is that I don’t just teach a subject. I get to teach the whole student!’ I teach students skills that build direct relevance to the real world. Students leave my program with purchasing power, exposure to many different career choices, environmental sustainability, the confidence to speak in front of a group and the knowledge of how to shake a hand and look someone in the face when introducing themselves.”

As the Humboldt County Teacher of the Year, Miller now has the opportunity to be considered for the California State Teacher of the Year, traditionally announced in October.