Press Release
Kellye Ketchum, A. E. Phillips School Teacher is being recognized as the recipient of the Ruston Kiwanis 2020/21 Outstanding Educator of the Year Award.
The former Kellye Auger grew up in Union Parish, born and raised in Farmerville and is a member of a family with a long line of teachers and educators. She graduated from Farmerville High School and then attended Louisiana Tech University, graduating with Summa Cum Laude honors in 2001. Right after graduation, she married Troy Ketchum and suddenly became Mrs. Ketchum to a lively group of sixth graders.
Kellye began her teaching career, which included public and private schools, both nationally and internationally, teaching elementary and middle school ages.
While attending Louisiana Tech, Kellye spent one summer teaching English as a second language in Shanghai, China.
After she and Troy married, they spent one year in Malawi, Africa, where Kellye taught fifth grade at the African Bible College Academy and organized reading programs for remote orphanages near their resident village of Lilongwe.
Kellye is currently in her third year of teaching at A. E. Phillips after spending seven years at home teaching her children. She teaches sixth and seventh grade English at A. E. Phillips and says she is learning a great deal about the current needs of children.
“As the past year has been completely upside down in many ways, I count it a God-appointed time to be serving my community in the classroom,” she said. “One of the best things about teaching is the relationships built in the classroom as my students “do life” with me. I love the light hearted conversations as well as the rich and sometimes heavy ones, we have over literature. I count each day as a new opportunity to grow in my profession and influence the next generation.”
Kellye and Troy have three “very” active boys and enjoy being in the outdoors as much as possible and attend the Bridge Community Church, where they are active members.