DAYTONA BEACH -- Kelly Conway, a teacher at New Smyrna Beach High School known throughout Southeast Volusia as the coach of the Show Dolls dance team, was named Volusia County Teacher of the Year tonight at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort.
Conway, 47, was chosen from a pool of 70 nominees at a function sponsored by the Futures Foundation and The Chamber, Daytona Beach/Halifax Area. The two groups made the event a reality after the district pulled out of the annual teacher banquet amid budget cuts.
The 23-year teacher spends part of her day teaching advanced college-level psychology, the latter half is on the dance team, which has won 10 national titles and 15 state championships under her direction.
New Smyrna Beach High Principal Carol Kelley said of Conway in her nominating letter: "She truly loves each student unconditionally and they know it. That is the basis on which she has built transforming relationships that inspire students to work harder, reach higher and achieve more than they ever thought possible."