2025 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Jennifer Montgomery
Jennifer Montgomery came from humble beginnings, growing up in rural Trimble County with no running water or telephone. While her love for literature led her to become a high school English teacher, her passion for teaching was ignited when she started teaching middle school.
For the last two decades, Montgomery has been combining her love for literature with her desire to foster empathy and student agency. She ignites students' passions and gets them invested in their learning through real-life experiences. One of the hallmarks of her teaching is the focus on authentic audiences and community involvement. Montgomery invites the community into her classroom and invites students into the community, truly embodying “anytime, anywhere" learning.
Montgomery earned a bachelor of arts in English from Asbury University and a master of arts in English education from the University of Kentucky. She has taught English at every grade level from 6-12. Montgomery loves teaching at Eminence Independent, a K-12 school, because when her students move to higher levels, she still sees them in the hallways and maintains a strong connection with them. She currently teaches 7th-grade English along with several electives. She is also working to attain an additional certification in English as a Second Language to better meet the needs of English language learners in her school.
A National Board Certified Teacher, Montgomery is a wife, mother, sister, musician and lover of language. She is honored to teach and serve in the small community of Eminence where she also lives.
Learn more about Jennifer on Kentucky Teacher.