You are graduating from NC A&T with your BA in Elementary Education. How has this prepared you to be an effective teacher?

Graduating from NC A&T has prepared me to be an effective teacher in many ways. As an AGGIE Educator and alum, I am motivated to demonstrate the core values of equity, access, and advocacy Equitable resources, fairness, and support are required for all students. As an AGGIE Educator, I will demonstrate my commitment to inclusion by creating a classroom environment in which all students feel included; inclusion will be a priority in my classroom. My classroom will be very diverse; there will be books, pictures, and learning stations where students can identify with specific tasks and assignments. I will differentiate my instruction and use culturally relevant teaching practices for my students. Every student deserves to be taught by someone who has faith in them and their abilities. As an AGGIE Educator, I will set a high bar for all students' achievement, and I will encourage and engage my students to avoid stereotypes regarding what they are capable of accomplishing. Lastly, access and advocacy are two core beliefs that are intrinsically tied. As an AGGIE Educator, I will illustrate the core value in access by striving to be the best educator I can be. I will establish a foundation for my students' learning with research, differentiation, and engagement. My students will have access to a teacher who not only employs effective teaching methods, but who also supports and cares for them. Advocacy will be demonstrated by how I ensure that my students are not bullied, and ensuring that I know the pedagogy, and conceptual framework of my teaching. Students need teachers that know what they are teaching. I will advocate for my students by attending professional development, reading the latest research, and further bettering my teaching- practices.

 Where and what will you be teaching next year? Why did you choose this/ what are you looking forward to?

In the upcoming year I will be teaching 1st grade at George C Simkins Jr Elementary. George C Simkins Junior Elementary is a public school located in Greensboro, NC, which is in a large city setting. The student population of George C Simkins Jr Elementary is 495 and the school serves PK-5. At George C Simkins Jr Elementary, 30% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 29% scored at or above that level for reading. The school’s minority student enrollment is 94%. The student-teacher ratio is 13, which is better than that of the district. The student population is made up of 50% female students and 50% male students. The school enrolls 99% economically disadvantaged students. There are 39 equivalent full-time teachers and 1 full-time school counselor. I'm excited to get my first classroom and do well with my students. I'm excited to see students who have had trouble in the past with reading and math finally reach a point where they can grow and flourish in their learning and have faith in their own abilities to understand the material being presented to them. I'm excited to observe my own development as a teacher. I want to make a difference in my students' lives by helping them learn, and I also want to learn more about them as people. I'm excited to see how I can best support my students' development as learners by analyzing supplementary data collected during the school year.

What is your favorite part of teaching?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a teacher for me is witnessing the moment when a student who has been struggling with the material begins to grasp it. One of my favorite things about teaching is seeing my struggling students become more self-assured as they begin to grasp concepts that previously baffled them. My face lights up with pride whenever I hear my students exclaim "ohh" or "ahh" while I'm lecturing, as this tells me that I'm succeeding as a teacher.

What advice would you give someone who wants to become a teacher?

My recommendation to anyone considering a career in education is to first ensure that they truly enjoy working with children. If I could tell them anything, it would be that teachers are multifaceted people. Those interested in teaching should be prepared to play a variety of roles in the classroom. There are many facets to the teaching profession. Teachers play many important roles in the lives of their students. A dedicated educator may be the only one standing between a vulnerable student and certain failure. I would also say that you can't afford to be "lazy" when it comes to teaching. It's important to put forth your best effort because your work has an impact on the lives of those around you. Teachers must be selfless in many situations because their students, coworkers, parents, administrators, and the community depend on them.

Tell us about yourself as a person outside of the classroom. How do you practice self-care?

Outside of the classroom, I am a very goal-oriented person who places a strong emphasis on family. My connection with God is of the utmost importance to me, and as a result, I spend the majority of my Sunday mornings worshiping Him at church. In the afternoons, I look forward to my grandmother's home-cooked meals. I enjoy experiencing new places and activities whenever I can. Creating original poetry and video content for my personal YouTube channel are two of my favorite pastimes. I take care of myself in a variety of different ways. When I need to get some clarity, I'll delete all of my social media accounts at once. I close all of my social media accounts and go into "hiding" to avoid being found. This is something that I try to do at least once every other month for a period of one to two weeks. Detoxing and fasting are two of my favorite activities to do during breaks from using social media. During this time, I make it a practice to abstain from eating particular foods and to also educate myself. Reading as many books as I can that inspire me to become a better person and that give me insight on the world that I live in.

 Is there anything else you'd like to share?

 In the long run, I want to earn a position as a Reading Specialist. I love working with students of all reading levels and abilities. I plan to work my way up from Reading Specialist to Literacy Coach. Coaches for literacy work together to raise literacy standards in individual classes, grades, and departments as well as the entire school.