By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Helena Intermediate School Gifted Resource Teacher Amanda Miller was recently awarded the HIS Teacher of the Year Award for her work with students this school year.

The award was given to Miller after the HIS faculty and administration came together and decided who should receive the teacher of the year award.

Miller is in her fourth year of teaching at HIS and said she was “shocked and amazed” when she found out she would be receiving the award.

“I have the best job in the building because I get to work with students and help them,” said Miller. “I get to teach my own gifted children and we get to do other activities that aren’t as textbook oriented. I already have a great job and to be nominated was icing on the cake.”

Prior to teaching at HIS, Miller was a gifted resource teacher at Valley Intermediate for eight years.

Miller said one of her favorite things about working at HIS is that the school feels like a family.

“Working in Helena is like a big family and everyone is concerned and cares about one another,” said Miller. “We care about the kids and want them to grow up and be even greater people.”

Miller has 106 students that she sees once a week for three hours at a time. She helps students explore their interests and in her class the students can do things that are more geared toward their enrichment of things.