DALTON, GA — Dalton Public Schools is proud to announce that Katya Spence has been named Park Creek School’s 2024–2025 Teacher of the Year.
Spence teaches third grade at Park Creek, where she serves as a homeroom teacher for English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. She began her teaching career at Park Creek in 2017 and has continued to grow as an educator and leader within the school and district.
A graduate of Dalton State College, Spence earned her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education in 2016. She later completed her master’s degree in Elementary Education in 2018 and specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2020, both from Piedmont College.
Spence’s journey into education is rooted deeply in her upbringing and her parents’ message that “Tu educación es clave”— “Your education is key.”
“My parents immigrated to the United States of America from Cochabamba, Bolivia, to seek better opportunities,” she shared. “During that first year of my education, I learned that I could integrate myself into a new culture, language, and experiences I had never had before. This all came down to the educators I had in my life that created those moments and influenced me to become a teacher.”
That experience inspired Spence to dedicate her career to creating welcoming, inclusive spaces for all students to learn and grow.
“I want to be able to be that figure in the lives of my students by showing them that they too can achieve what they want by working hard and learning every day. I also am a strong believer in fostering an environment that feels welcoming to all students. Growing up and even today, school is my happy place.”
Spence is known for transforming her classroom into creative, hands-on learning environments that make lessons come alive.
“Making learning authentic is one of my favorite pieces in crafting and delivering a lesson,” she wrote. “Some of these classroom transformations included changing my classroom to Target, Cracker Barrel, Candyland, Crumbl Cookie, construction sites, and even a spa. I believe learning should be meaningful to all and I enjoy connecting content to my students’ lives and the world around them.”
Her teaching philosophy centers on lifelong learning, real-world relevance, and differentiation. She believes students learn best through connection and experience.
“These pillars—lifelong learning, real-world relevance, differentiation and flexibility—all mean the world to me. These core beliefs are integrated into my everyday life as an educator and shaped my classroom into one that has experiential learning.”
Outside of school, Spence is active in the Humane Society of Northwest Georgia, where she volunteers weekly. Her passion for community service also extends to her classroom—her students write persuasive “Adopt Me” letters for animals at the shelter.
“Volunteering at the Humane Society of Northwest Georgia has been the best experience for me outside the classroom and a joy to give back to the community.”
Dalton Public Schools congratulates Katya Spence for her dedication, creativity, and compassion—qualities that make her a true example of excellence in education.