I have been in the field of education for thirty-two years. I love what I do everyday; it is truly a PASSION and I can not imagine doing anything else! I have retired once already (yeah… I know what you’re thinking…) as a gifted, special services, and elementary curriculum director for a large public school district! As well, for two years after retirement from the public school system setting, I served as an elementary school principal for Choctaw Tribal Schools for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians!
Next, I served as an educational consultant across the state coaching and mentoring teachers, administrators, and superintendents. Currently, I serve as the assistant superintendent of a public school district in rural Mississippi at the “Gateway to the Entrace of the Mississippi Delta.”
My PASSION is that of teaching twice exceptional learners and differentiating their learning experience so that they experience success and their glowing brilliance and intelligence is evident! My most ignited passion is that of Dyslexia and ADHD learners and how to meet their needs in becoming successful “Next Generation Leaders!”
In reflecting immensely regarding my teaching philosophy, I would contend that it is a philosophy of first establishing relationships with children– they don’t want to know how much you know until they know how much you care! Next, I believe that children must see the RELEVANCE in what they are doing; certainly with “21st Century Learners” as well as Generation Z Learners, this has never been more critical! Finally, I believe that children must have real-world experiences to truly be engaged in their learning and not just retain material for a test– Children deserve our ABSOLUTE best!
Awards, achievements, and honors that I have received throughout my educational career include the following: (1) Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching; (2) WalMart Teacher of the Year; (3) Association for Excellence in Education Teacher of the Year; (4) Jones County School District Teacher of the Year; (5) Jones County School District Administrator of the Year; and the (6) Friends of Counseling Award for the Pine Belt Counseling Organization of Mississippi!
Most of my entire teaching career, I have taught from fourth to eighth grade and loved every minute of it. I have owned a daycare/preschool setting so I also have experience in the Pre-K environment as well. Additionally, I have served as a lead teacher and have experience in leading curricular efforts at each grade level. I have served as an assistant principal as well as a supervising principal. I have also served as a district administrator, guiding and facilitating the gifted program, the special services program, and the elementary curriculum department. After retiring from a large school district, I served as a principal of a Choctaw Tribal School with Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Afterwards, I served as an educational consultant, across the state of Mississippi, mentoring and coaching classroom teachers, administrators, and school superintendents. Currently, I serve as the assistant superintendent of a pubic school district in rural Mississippi.
I can not write and communicate an “About Me” page without introducing you all to my most prized possessions who truly define me — they are who I am collectively! I am the mom to four young men — three of which are grown, gone, and off my payroll! One still to go… I’ve shared with him that “currently I am 3 for 3 in that regard and I’ll NOT be 3 for 4 so he absolutely knows what that means!
My oldest son is Zach and he is married to sweet Jade who is also a teacher and they have two children — Jace and Lily Kate. My next son is Blake and he is married to Lauren who owns a very successful boutique in Hattiesburg, Mississippi — Funky Shoes… check them out on Instagram! Blake and Lauren have one daughter and her name is EmmieEvans who is three! My third son is Brady — he’s not married yet; but, he has the sweetest girlfriend and her name is Amber! Finally, WHEW… my fourth son is Drew and he is a senior this year — PRAISE the LORD! What I have failed to mention in this discussion is that Drew is 17 and Brady, my next son, is 29! I’M TIRED!
In closing, it’s important for me to convey to you how passionate I am about students getting the education they deserve! I absolutely love education and working with children of all ages to realize their potential and become the BEST VERSION of themselves! Additionally, I enjoy consultant work and establishing, leading, and helping to sustain professional learning communities so that teachers might have the opportunity to be the best version of a “ROCKSTAR TEACHER” that they can be! I also enjoy supporting teachers working on their master’s degree as well as alternate-route teachers– for without TEACHERS where would we be!