Hui Couch working one-on-one with a student in her algebra class, providing individual guidance. Photo by Leah Tubbs, Kentucky Department of Education, Dec. 9, 2025
Hui Couch, who teaches 9th-grade algebra at Newcomer Academy of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), knew education was her calling after being inspired by her mother, whom she describes as a very successful leader and teacher.
“I followed my mom’s footsteps without second thought,” Couch said.
Growing up, she witnessed her mother’s commitment to her students, caring for them as if they were her own, which she said instilled a sense of service and desire to make a positive impact on her students’ lives.
“I just realized that care, you know, love and service for students; that made me feel that becoming a teacher is my job,” she said.
Couch was awarded the November 2025 Honored National Teaching Award by Honored, a nonprofit organization that recognizes teachers across the country.
Born and educated in China, Couch began her own journey as an educator in 1998 when she started teaching before transitioning to the United States as an exchange teacher in 2012.
Couch taught in Tennessee and Virginia before moving to Kentucky to teach in Shelbyville. She joined JCPS in January 2023.
She earned her master’s degree from Liberty University and is currently pursuing an educational administration post-master’s degree at the University of Louisville.
“One moment from my own education that really shaped me was realizing how little ownership I had over my learning when I was in school,” she said.
This realization is why Couch explores a learning style called the Modern Classrooms Project, which emphasizes blended, self-paced and mastery-based learning with the integration of technology in the classroom
A typical day in her classroom includes one-on-one check-in meetings, distribution of handouts, warm-up activities, group activities and the use of trackers so students can monitor their progress.
Couch also regularly pulls individual students or small groups for reteaching, clarification and additional support. Students also collaborate in groups to encourage teamwork and accountability.
“In my classroom, students have ownership, real ownership of their learning,” she said. “So, I want students to know their words matter and their choice matters so they can work at their own pace.”
The leaders at Newcomer Academy recognize the impact that Couch makes in her classroom.
“She is passionate, innovative and highly motivated to help students as they accelerate their learning in numeracy and English language,” Newcomer Academy Assistant Principal Hicham Roida said.
“She really stood out to us for many reasons, but one of the big reasons was, you know, she’s teaching in a class where students speak nine different languages, which is incredible,” said Hannah Bowyer-Rivette, a program associate at Honored. “She’s not only teaching algebra; she’s also helping them improve their English.”
Couch said teaching this way allows for flexibility to meet students exactly where they are instead of “pushing the whole class through the same lesson at the same pace.”
She said the most rewarding part of teaching is watching her students grow not only in math, but in their confidence and independence in learning.
“Over time, they see that big challenges can be overcome with persistence, strategy and focused effort,” she said.
Couch said she aims for students to leave her class with skills and traits like resilience, empathy, adaptability and critical thinking to prepare them for real-world challenges and “not just higher math test scores.” Couch said also she wants students to know that “their growth is visible, and their effort is celebrated.”
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