What Keeps Houston County’s Longest Running Teacher Going

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Houston County’s longest running teacher has taught for nearly half a century. Perry Primary teacher Mary Hunt isn’t trying to set a record, she says she’s just doing what she loves.

Inside her classroom, 5 and 6-year-olds keep Hunt on her toes.

“They keep me going,” she said.

Hunt may be going on her 47th year of teaching, but her passion for educating the little ones is still going strong.

“Just from a child, I’ve always loved little children and it was a dream of mine to be a kindergarten teacher,” said Hunt.

Her childhood influenced her reasons for wanting to teach and have shaped who she is today.

“I grew up in the Masonic Children’s Home in Macon,” Hunt said.

Perry Primary Principal Dr. Elgin Mayfield added, “I think it’s a beautiful story that she was in a children’s home growing up and years and decades later she’s still working with children.”

For Hunt, kindergarten is the only grade to teach. She continues her teaching career with this in mind: “Do what you love and love what you do.”

Hunt has taught South Carolina and Georgia. She’s been teaching kindergarten since 1974 and has
been at Perry Primary for 12 years.