Joshua Bundy received the Trudie Hill Achievement Award for math . He met and surpassed all of his math goals for kindergarten , and his computation skills are above grade level expectations , the school said . From left are Principal Chuck Jones ; Joshua ’ s mother , Sara Bundy ; Joshua ; his father , Donald Bundy ; and Trudie Hill , a retired educator and member of the Colquitt County Board of Education . Photo submitted
“ Observing my parents in the teaching mode , I dreamed of becoming a teacher one day ,” she said .
Hill said that , in high school , her English teacher also became an inspiration , being firm but showing a tremendous amount of love , empathy , patience and compassion for her students . She said that it was her who inspired her to pursue and English degree and teach at the high school level .
She started her teaching career , in 1969 , at William Bryant High School and taught in Norman Park , as well . Most of her career was spent at Colquitt County High School , where she was the department head of special education . She spent more than 35 years of her life as an educator .
“ In addition to teaching English , I became interested in the new special education , which was in the initial planning stage for the high school . I researched the program and decided to pursue the training at Valdosta State College . I knew this would be the most challenging job , but it was all about trying to make a difference in the lives of the students I wanted to teach ,” Hill said .
She said that she knew that she would be working with students with various disabilities and somewhat of a broad spectrum of abilities .
“ I wanted to be their voice and a strong advocate for them . They needed to be heard . They could excel like other students . They just needed the opportunity ,” she said .
Hill said that when she became department head of special education at Colquitt County High School , she utilized that platform to make recommendations for improvements with the support of the teachers and administrators .
“ The primary focus was to improve the student ’ s school experiences . They needed to be able to enjoy the learning and social experiences at school ,” she said . She said that progress was being made in meeting and collaborating with regular classroom teachers , the curriculum director , and administrators alike .
Hill said that students who met the criteria according to their Individualized Education Plan were mainstreamed in various regular classes and s community-based program was initiated where students could acquire on-the-job training in lawn and garden care , food service and other areas .
“ The program has grown to new heights across the School District , giving ‘ Thanks ’ to the many teachers who have dedicated their lives to working with the students ,” she said .
When asked what drove her all of these years , Hill said that she has always had a passion for helping and advocating for others and she finds satisfaction in supporting others .
“ Sometimes , it can be challenging , but you must stay focused on why you are involved in the work ,” she added .
One of the things Hill said that she was most proud of was having the opportunity to teach and work with students in all capacities .
“ Making a positive impact on the lives of so many students is so rewarding . Many have become responsible and productive citizens in Moultrie and Colquitt County ,” she said .
She also said that , as a school board member , she was incredibly proud of the endless list of significant accomplishments or progress made within the Colquitt County School System .
Hill said that the most significant change that she has seen in education since she first started her journey was technology across the board .
“ I remember when we used chalkboards . They have been replaced with smart boards , while laptops and Chromebooks have replaced notebooks to some degree ,” she said .
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