At which Meeting Street School do you teach?
Meeting Street Academy–Charleston
When and why did you decide to be a teacher?
As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. I truly have always felt a specific calling to teaching. Throughout my life, I’ve often looked for opportunities to help others–starting with cleaning the house when my parents were away and my older siblings had fallen asleep! It brings me so much joy to help others, and teaching is an area where I get to help beautiful young people learn new things and grow their brains every single day. My favorite part in the process has got to be when students witness their own lightbulb moments!
Where did you go to school?
Clemson University! Go Tigers!!
Where did you do your student teaching and what did you take away from that experience?
I did my student teaching in a small town near Clemson called Liberty, SC. Something major that I walked away with was the desire to ensure that any student who passes through my classroom doors has more opportunities when they leave. I’ve always had a lot of drive, and I walked out of student teaching focusing it all towards helping students grow beyond limits that may have been set for the year or that they had unknowingly set for themselves. Children can grasp so much more than people often think, and, if we work hard enough to make complex concepts more accessible for students, there is no limit to what they can accomplish!
How did you decide which school you would teach at after graduating?
I was lucky enough to get to intern the summer before my senior year with Meeting Street Schools at the Spartanburg campus and truly fell in love. It was the only school I saw myself beginning my career. Down to the smell of the hallways, MSA Spartanburg was the most special school I’d ever stepped foot in. After that summer, I think I would’ve accepted anything they offered just to get to be there. Luckily, I was offered a position in Kindergarten with a co-teacher who grew up as one of my sister’s closest friends. The stars aligned!
Which school(s) did you teach at before coming to Meeting Street Schools?
I worked at Meeting Street Schools right out of college.
How did you find out about Meeting Street Schools?
My brother told me about Meeting Street Schools!
What was your first impression/experience at Meeting Street Schools?
My first experience at Meeting Street Schools was my summer internship at Meeting Street Academy–Spartanburg. On my first day, everyone welcomed me with open arms (and I mean, open arms! I don’t think I missed a hug from anyone!). It just felt right, right away. I was treated like I had always been a member of the team. One of the highlights of my first few weeks there was getting asked why I came in on my birthday, being sent home on my birthday and told to go celebrate, and returning the next day for lunch to celebrate with the MSA team. I continued the entire summer hoping that I could one day be a teacher at that school.
What makes Meeting Street Schools different, and/or why did you decide to work for Meeting Street Schools, and what keeps you here?
Meeting Street Schools is different in many ways. From describing how each school is different to what a public school of innovation is, I have spent a lot of time loving answering questions about Meeting Street! Meeting Street Schools was founded by people who wouldn’t sit back and let zip code determine the trajectory of students’ lives, who were and still are passionately driven to do whatever it takes for students to receive the resources they deserve to create the success they deserve. Meeting Street Schools focuses on all areas that are known to lead to success–this doesn’t stop at high academic achievement. Meeting Street Schools’ Path to Success was very specifically and carefully crafted for strong character development to exist within the network along with social-emotional curriculum and practice. Lastly, if anyone hasn’t experienced Watoto Charleston, look it up right now!
What is your current position at Meeting Street Schools? Describe the journey from first starting at MSS to where you are now.
My current position is 2nd Grade Master Teacher and Player Coach. When I first started at Meeting Street Academy–Spartanburg, a fellow Clemson graduate who was two years ahead of me, Molly Maready, told me that I would grow three years worth of teaching in that first year. That was hard to believe, but she was so right. I began as a Kindergarten Teacher, where I learned and grew so much, with so many thanks to my co-teacher, Abby Holley, and my curriculum coach turned principal, Kyndran Hilton. I will never be able to thank either of these two enough for what they poured into me. Without these two amazing people, I would not be half the teacher I am today. I would not have had what I needed to even know how to give my students what they needed to make significant classroom gains.
What career goals are you still working towards?
I’m still exploring!
