Patty Huey, Family Academy's 2004 Teacher of the Academic Excellence, deserves the recognition. Her heart for accommodating children of all learning needs expands their acceptance of themselves, their various gifts, and their unique capabilities. Some of her students' challenges left them without choices and without hope. Her incredible ability to meet needs restores dreams and instills inspiration in the students God places in her life. "Compassionate" hardly describes this teacher adequately.

In addition, organizationally, Patty innovated a structure to meet the needs of a growing number of families in the Stanwood/Camano Island area. She pioneered a three-teacher school, having sub-contracted two teachers of excellence, answering the heart's cry in her community for high-end academic, college preparation schooling. At the same time, she made those often-disenfranchised students with challenges feel not only included, but also inspired them to work to their excellent potential(s). Changes for the next school year will be to improve the delivery system and the opportunity to meet individual needs.

A woman of God, Patty holds others higher than herself, works tirelessly on behalf of the families of her area, and prayerfully meets each test and experience with a faith that pleases her Lord. Excellence has a new definition with the acknowledgement of Patty Huey's distinction as the 2004 school year's, Teacher of Academic Excellence.