Michelle Beyard-Teacher

My homeroom class will be helping the world by participating in The Goals Project! It is an amazing opportunity for ALL classrooms to participate in helping produce a sustainable future for ALL people and ALL of our planet.
https://www.goalsproject.org/

I'm proud to say that the lovely and very awesome Mrs. Kay Jackson is one of my amazing co-teachers this year! Way to go Mrs. Jackson! You are amazing!

“Alright! Footloose review time!”

Sixth grade math teacher Mrs. Jackson enthusiastically instructed her students to start working on the fraction multiplication problems posted around the room in bright purple paper. “Footloose” played in the background while the middle schoolers danced around the room with their partners, whiteboards in hand, ready to tackle the 24 questions hanging around the classroom. I looked around the room: every student was working, a smile on each face. I heard kids say, “This is fun!” and “That went by fast!”

This is the gift Mrs. Jackson offers each of her students: a class that some young adolescents may initially be intimidated by turns into an energetic, exciting, and accessible learning space…all because one teacher chooses to bring her vitality and knowledge and laughter every day.

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𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 “𝘄𝗵𝘆”? 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁?
My “why” is always the students: meeting them, learning about them, and wanting to help them. I don’t want them to think their situation now will be their ending. I remember being in their shoes. Education can take you anywhere you want to go. I feel like I’m needed here, but I need the students, too. They teach me new things all the time. This is more than a job.

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺?
I asked my administration if I could create and teach an elective called “GRIT,” which is a leadership and growth mindset class. All the elementaries in our district come together here in sixth grade, so it can be a really scary thing. This class allows them to feel more comfortable with each other and share their interests. It’s a way for students to really take ownership because I let them use their talents to guide us in our learning together. One student may have an interest in American Sign Language, so we might study that for a week. We bring in medical dummies, and the nurse teaches us CPR. We do a canned food drive for the local homeless shelter. I love teaching math, but I also love teaching this class for one hour a day, which gives me a little more autonomy and creativity.

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀?
As a young teacher, I struggled so hard to provide for my own children. It was very stressful. I’m in my 22nd year of teaching and just now paid off my school loans. So, money is a big deal. People have to make a living. But pay isn’t the only thing. The other thing is the negativity surrounding our profession. It’s going to take legislators who are willing to listen to educators to change the narrative and make true change–to make sure our younger teachers have mentors so they will be equipped to stay in the profession.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱?
Find a connection with the kids! Anything that interests you, bring it in. I talk to my students about my pets and about hiking. We’re just like them. When they see that–when we convey that–that’s when the learning can really take off.

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As students worked problems in pairs, I often heard Ms. Jackson remind them, “Be a teacher; don’t just be an answer giver.” Committed to helping her students grow both as mathematicians and as human beings, Mrs. Jackson searches for ways to encourage collaboration and growth mindsets in her young mathematicians. As Mrs. Jackson’s nominator said, “She isn't just concerned with their academics, but genuinely connects with and cares about her students' lives, hobbies, interests, and extra-curriculars.”

Thank you, Mrs. Jackson.

Thank you, Teachers of Oklahoma.

Sand Springs Public Schools Sand Springs Leader