All eyes were on ninth-grade English teacher Melanie Boyes as she read aloud to her students. After a particularly interesting paragraph, Boyes went quiet.

"Should I stop right there?" she asked.

Her students immediately reacted.

"No," they said in near unison.

"Keep reading," a few pleaded.

Boyes is Natrona County School District's Teacher of the Year, an honor she's proud to have earned after 21 years in the classroom. She teaches ninth-grade language arts at CY Junior High, the school she's been at since 1991.

Boyes has also earned a Medallion of Excellence from the school district, the Arch Coal Golden Apple and the Ellbogen Foundation Meritorious Junior High Teacher award.

"I'm always happy when I come to her class," said 15-year-old Jordan Honea. "I know I'm going to learn something."

"She's not like our teacher," said Samantha Tarasoff, also 15. "She's one of our best friends."

Boyes always knew she'd end up at the front of a classroom.

"I was born to teach," she said. "Before I ever went to school, I was playing school. I'd make little history and math books and distribute them."

Her teaching style is as engaging as her heavily decorated classroom. Students seem eager to answer her questions and connect with her stories.

The word 'believe' is scattered around her room, a reminder to students that they should always find something to believe in.

"She's not boring at all," Samantha said.

"She makes everything we do fun," Jordan added.

The relationships built with her students are the best part of being a teacher, Boyes said. A former student recently visited Boyes after passing the bar exam and another texted Boyes from college to ask about the proper uses of 'into.'

"I get them legally for 185 days," Boyes said. "And then they're latched in."

Boyes credited the school district's professional development opportunities for helping her earn the title of Teacher of the Year. The amount she's grown as a teacher in 10 years is remarkable, she said.

At the end of the day, Boyes said she always remembers what she thinks some see as a cliche - teaching is the chance to make a difference in the life a student.

"If one kid cares, I'll do it," Boyes said. "If one kid wants it to happen, I'll make it happen."

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com