FEEL GOOD FRIDAY: IMPACT Center teacher recognized as Special Education Teacher of the Year
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — For Madison Womack, success in the classroom isn’t always measured by test scores. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a student finding the confidence to raise their hand and ask a question.
Womack, a special education teacher at the IMPACT Center, was recently named Special Education Teacher of the Year at the Disability Support and Advocacy Awards.
The recognition highlights her dedication to helping students build confidence, develop communication skills, and learn to advocate for themselves both inside and outside the classroom.
Many of Womack’s students face challenges with communication and self-advocacy. Through her teaching, she works to help them recognize their abilities and develop the skills needed to ask for support as they prepare for life after high school.
Cody Rich, who has witnessed Womack’s impact on students, said her approach helps them grow academically and personally.
“She builds kids’ confidence up, and then they excel in academics after the confidence is built up,” Rich said.
For Womack, even the smallest improvements are worth celebrating.
“I’ve always said progress is progress. It doesn’t matter if it’s the tiniest bit,” Womack said. “If I have a student who typically doesn’t raise their hand in class and I see them one day, they raise their hand and they ask a question, we celebrate it because they did something that, at one point, they thought they weren’t capable of.”
Womack discovered her passion for special education while studying elementary and special education at Western Kentucky University.
She began her teaching career in kindergarten before transitioning into special education eight years ago.
Although her work has now earned recognition, Womack said receiving the award was unexpected.
“I don’t teach for the recognition. I just do it because I love it,” Womack said. “Knowing that someone else out there felt highly enough of me to nominate me for this award, it really meant a lot and gave me that confidence to know that I’m in the right area and I’m doing the right things.”
While the award recognizes Womack’s accomplishments, she said her greatest priority remains preparing students for their futures and making sure they know they have someone supporting them.
“I always tell them, it doesn’t matter what you do after high school. It’s about the person that you are,” Womack said. “I just hope that they can always look back and know that they have someone in their corner, that they are supported in whatever they choose to do.”
For Womack, helping students discover their potential and gain confidence in themselves remains the most rewarding part of her work.
