Standing against her classroom’s whiteboard for hours on end, she instructs classes full of eager-eyed learners through some of life’s most essential skills. After several periods of explaining the ins and outs of finances and valuable lessons for adulthood, she may finally rest, but those eight hours of school are only a fraction of her responsibilities.

Teacher Pamela Hamilton is this year’s Career and Technical Association Texas Area 3 Teacher of the Year. CTAT is a non-profit organization that helps provide access to quality CTE programs that align with regional and state workforce opportunities. Hamilton will move on to represent Area 3 at the state level.

Hamilton thinks that winning this award could be a gateway  to shedding light on classes dealing with different occupations at the school.

“I think every student should have their chance to take hands-on classes to help prepare them for the future,” Hamilton said. “It might not necessarily be what you want to do, but you might learn what you don’t want to do.”

Hamilton teaches accounting and career preparation, but her work in education extends far beyond the classroom. She is involved in activities such as DECA, where students create business ideas to compete against other schools in district-wide competitions.

“DECA [has] been the thing that has allowed students the chance to get outside sitting in a classroom and experience speaking in front of business professionals,” Hamilton said. “It’s been fun watching the kids and their ideas.

Although she strives for students to succeed in these contests, she is aware they have lives outside of school such as  extracurricular activities. Hamilton is also especially mindful of students’ mental well-being

“I care about the whole person, not just their grades,” Hamilton said. “How are they doing mentally? Life’s gonna happen to all of us at some time or another, so I hope when they graduate, they have the skills to be successful no matter what they choose to do.”

Hamilton once traveled to Washington, D.C.,  in hopes of raising awareness about providing career and technology classes across the country.

“My fondest memories have been things I’ve gotten to do; I got to go to Washington, D.C., and go to the Capitol and bring awareness to career and technology,” Hamilton said. “Talking to representatives in D.C. was kinda cool. Ralph Hall was in office, and he let me sit in his chair.”

As someone that has gone to great lengths to advocate her message, Hamilton’s award makes her proud of how far Texas High’s career and technology program has come.

“I think it brings a positive light on our technology program,” Hamilton said. “I feel like we are growing in that area, so it excites me that we’re able to bring attention to that.”