Wayne High's Dyer wins teacher of the year

WAYNE -- Ruby Dyer couldn't help but get choked up Tuesday night after she was announced as Wayne County's Teacher of the Year.

Dyer, who has taught journalism and English for 34 years -- 33 at her alma mater Wayne High School -- said she was honored and humbled to beat out so many other great teachers.

Dyer's path into teaching started early, playing school as a child. As she got older, she fell in love with journalism, working on the Pioneer Yearbook staff and as the editor of the school newspaper.

"I loved English and journalism, so I wanted to find a way to combined (them)," she said.

That led her into the classroom, where she has had a tremendous impact on thousands of students. Some, she said, have gone on to become teachers in Wayne County. A few of those former students even shared the stage as teacher of the year nominees.

"This is humbling because I work with hard-working teachers," said Dyer, who won the county's teacher of the year title in 1983.

What means most to her, though, is that her two sons, Caleb and Kyle, have inherited her love of journalism and education. Caleb Dyer is a teacher at Wayne High School, and Kyle Dyer will graduate from Marshall University's School of Journalism on Saturday.

Dyer said she plans to teach a few more years and joked that maybe she won because they thought she was ready to call it quits.

"Longevity has some reward," Dyer said. "I hope they didn't think I was going to retire. I'm on board for at least a few more years."

The other nominees were: Patty Garrison, Buffalo Elementary; Bonnie Evans, Ceredo Elementary; Linda McCallister, Crum Elementary; Rebecca Smarr, Dunlow Elementary; Amber Hardin, East Lynn Elementary; Mary Moon, Fort Gay Elementary; Amanda Preece, Genoa Elementary; Stacy Morrison, Kellogg Elementary; Judy McCormick, Kenova Elementary; Debra Overby, Lavalette Elementary; Brenda Hatten, Prichard Elementary; Jessica Willis, Wayne Elementary; Sherry Stultz, Buffalo Middle; William Chaffin, Ceredo-Kenova Middle; Tony Clay, Crum Middle; Cindy Hatten, Fort Gay Middle; Amy Dillon, Vinson Middle; Sherry Webb, Wayne Middle; Patty Marshall, Spring Valley High; and Drew Waller, Tolsia High.