Smyrna Elementary School teacher wins 2026 contest, to appear in Reader’s Digest

By MEALAND RAGLAND-HUDGINS

One semester after stepping into her own classroom, Ivy Miller was unsure if she made the right choice by being an educator.

Family members often told her being a teacher seemed like the perfect job for her. After initially pursuing a degree in psychology, the Smyrna High School and Middle Tennessee State University graduate felt she’d make a bigger impact in the classroom.

Five and a half years later, Miller won the title of ‘America’s Favorite Teacher’ in an annual contest sponsored by Colossal. She teaches fourth grade English Language Arts at Smyrna Elementary School and will appear in an upcoming edition on Reader’s Digest.

“I saw an ad on Facebook that basically said, 'Are you America's favorite teacher?’ I thought, probably not, but it's not going to hurt to try,” Miller recalled.

The win comes with a trip to Hawaii, which Miller planned to take during summer break. Bill Nye the Science Guy will also participate in a virtual visit with the school later this year, leaning into Smyrna Elementary’s STEM designation. She also received $25,000 in cash and is planning to use a portion to expand after-school tutoring opportunities for Smyrna-area students.

“I feel like a completely different teacher now. I think because my first year was so hard, it’s made all the other years easier,” Miller said. “I learned so much about how to talk to students, what motivates them and what doesn't motivate them. It's just gotten better every year.”

Despite a rocky start to her career, Miller has found her lane as a classroom teacher and member of Smyrna Elementary’s leadership team. The leadership team facilitates weekly Professional Learning Community meetings, plans grade-level field trips and develops solutions for challenges within the building.

After learning about her win, Miller took time to reflect on her growth as an educator.

What was your path to becoming a teacher?

Miller: I really did not want to be a teacher. My family always said ‘Oh, you'd be such a great teacher. You love crafts and you love holidays.’ And I thought, absolutely not. Back then, kids really stressed me out and I didn't know how to talk to them.

I was in school for psychology because I like helping people and making (others) happy makes me happy. But it seemed like if I was a psychologist, I was going to be helping people who could the help they needed. But as a teacher, I felt like I'd be able to help kids whose parents didn't have that ability.

What kind of student were you in fourth grade?

Miller: Sometimes I wonder about this because I'm pretty quiet and reserved now, but I think I might have been annoying when I was like in elementary school. Maybe almost like the teacher's pet kind of student.

Is there a teacher you have fond memories of being in the classroom with?

Miller: She was not my teacher, but a third-grade teacher, Mrs. Herbold at John Colemon. My mom was an (educational assistant), so after school (my brother and I) would go into Mrs. Herbold’s classroom and help her. We would cut out things she needed for her classroom, help grade her papers and do classroom chores that she needed done. It was just so fun and she was so kind.

What was your first year in the classroom like?

Miller: It was rough. I came in mid-year and the teacher before me, the class really loved him. They were miserable he was gone and I was miserable, too. It was just so hard because they had been together for so long and had these relationships formed. Here I am, a brand new teacher and I’d never been in a fourth-grade classroom as a student teacher. I was with the younger grades. I felt like I didn't know how to interact with them and I didn't know how to manage their behavior. I did not know what I was doing.

I’d go home and cry. My mom said ‘Stick it out. Give it a whole year.’ So I did. And the instructional coaches here came in and they really, really helped me. They set up behavior systems for me and it got better.

 I think what's really made me a better teacher is that I haven't been afraid to ask questions when I'm unsure of things and that I was able to watch other teachers teach. I learned so much from watching the other teachers! 

What does it mean to you to be part of Smyrna Elementary School?

Miller: It just makes me proud to be at this school specifically because I hear other people complain about their experiences with students, parents or administrators. But I feel like here, it's a priority for every teacher to try to make a relationship with every single student. I enjoy that because for me, part of what makes me a better teacher is having relationships with my kids.