ProStart

Dedicated. Hard working. Heart of gold. These are three ways I would describe this teacher of the year candidate. Ms. Vicki Garay (far right) works in a part of the state where the population faces many barriers. Her classroom is a safe place for students to learn and excel. She leads her students in a quiet manner with compassion and grace as she teaches skills to prepare them to enter the workforce, head off to post-secondary education, or prepare a meal for their family. When observing her with the students, one can see the ease at which she engages with them and how the students feel confident and at their best. I can think of no one more deserving than Ms. Garay.

An excerpt from the student recommendation letter.
Throughout my four years of high school, and my educational career as a whole, I have encountered dozens of educators. Some left more of an impression than others, and a few really stood out. However, none touched me in the way that my ProStart educator did. This teacher greeted me with a warm smile every day for four years, and made school somewhere I wanted to be. She became a teacher, a mentor, and someone I hold very close to my heart. She not only teaches her students how to be better culinary professionals, but she teaches them basic life skills and human decency. She teaches her students respect, communication, kindness, and passion. Throughout my four years at this school, I learned more from her than anybody else. She pushed me to be the best version of myself I could be, and I knew no matter what she was always in my corner to support me.

Ms. Garay will be invited to attend the National ProStart Invitational in May where she and her fellow nominees and winners will be celebrated as well as an event in the summer. Congratulations, Ms. Vicki Garay!