Students sign to become future educators
May 4 served as signing day at Screven County High School for students who planned to embark on careers as future teachers.
With the pandemic derailing last year’s plans, SCHS students from the Class of 2021 as well as Class of 2020 participated in Georgia Future Educators Signing Day at the outdoor classroom for teacher Wynn Pollock.
Being honored from the Class of 2020 and already enrolled college students were Gabi Becton, Shelby Johnston, Alyssa King, Abigail Stockwell and Gage Williams. From the SCHS Class of 2021 were Sydney Dirst, PJ Flowers, Mariah Rhodes and Kamiyah Seabrooks.
Pollock introduced Candy Sheppard, a 35-year teacher and for 11-year substitute and tutor in the Screven County School System, to provide words of encouragement for the future educators.
“Her husband Don says the only way they could get rid of her was by declaring a pandemic,” Pollock said during the introduction of Sheppard.
Sheppard said she would not be truthful if she said every day as a teacher was the best, but the good days certainly outweighed the bad.
She said there were some of her days as a teacher made her cranky and some days made her cry. However, Sheppard helped provided guidance to thousands of students.
Sheppard said she always wanted to go to school as a child. When she was young, Sheppard was told that she would be able to attend at the age of 6. She got excited when her siblings would come home from school with their book bags, notebooks, and their boxes of 64 Crayola Crayons.
So when Sheppard’s sixth birthday came in March, she woke up early, got dressed, and was ready to go to school. But she had to be told it would be another six months before she could start school.
She said she loved teaching because every day is a challenge; it is never boring; and it changes minute to minute.
Sheppard said she remembers a student she decided for her story to call “Bubba.” Bubba, Sheppard said, would bring a live or sometimes dead frog with him to school. He would bring lottery tickets which Bubba would routinely tell Sheppard “all are losers.” Each day Bubba would plead with Sheppard to go to outside recess barefooted. And each day Sheppard would invoke that Bubba must wear shoes at the break.
“Bubba was from a very poor family,” Sheppard said. “He loved to be read to, but struggled with reading.”
His favorite book was called “Signs” because it was repetitive in how each page began with “this is a …”
“He could read the book by looking at the pictures,” said Sheppard, but Bubba would have extra difficulty with the page about an escalator because he had never seen in-person an escalator. The sign in the book noting an escalator was near confused Bubba so he perceived it to instead be a sign for “don’t stand up in the boat.”
“I think about Bubba a lot,” she said. “I hope he got to ride on an escalator and never stood up in a boat.
“It was truly a privilege to go into a classroom,” Sheppard said.
Sheppard said she saw one of her former second graders who had grown into adulthood. The former student told Sheppard she still remembers what the teacher told her in elementary school. The now adult reminded Sheppard of saying, “I wish you were my momma” as the teacher responded “I wish you were my little girl.”
The woman said, “I always have remembered that and it has gotten me through some hard times.”
“Finish your degree and do what you love and love what you do,” said Sheppard, looking toward the college students and SCHS seniors. “Seeing you makes me almost want to start over. Notice I said ‘almost.’ In retirement, every day is a holiday. Hopefully some day you will teach my grandchildren.”
Sylvania resident Chris Thompson, the Georgia Southern University College of Education educator preparation coordinator for the Statesboro campus, said teaching prepares people for many aspects of life including being a good parent and a quality neighbor.
Thompson’s role at Georgia Southern provides support for initial educator preparation programs including recruitment, progression and graduation; undergraduate scholarships; and special initiatives and field and clinical experiences for grades 1-12 partners.
Thompson reminded the students that the day of their signing, May 4, is National Teacher Day which is intended to honor teachers and recognize their contributions in people’s lives. Thompson walked over to each student to ask them where they planned to attend college.
“I am very happy with all of you,” she said. “You have done great.”
Superintendent Dr. Jim Thompson said teaching offers an opportunity to make an impact in people’s lives.
“Teaching is a career you can take with you anywhere,” Thompson said. “Don’t forget about Screven County. When you are considering where to go, consider Screven County. I look forward to seeing you in the future.”
“The State School Superintendent Richard Woods, your local administrators, community members, and teachers commend you on making an honorable decision to improve the quality of life for Georgia citizens though the educational process,” said SCHS principal Brian Scott. “You will be a great asset as we work towards ‘Educating Georgia’s Future.’”
Gabi Becton has just completed her first year at East Georgia State College. She plans to transfer to Georgia Southern University in the fall of 2022 and pursue a degree in elementary education. She completed the early childhood pathway and interned with Star Sheppard in second grade. Becton wants to be an educator because she loves children and the thought of having a positive impact on her students brings her great joy. Becton also wants to make her students laugh and give them the gift of knowledge.
Abigail Stockwell is attending Georgia Southern University and is pursuing a degree in health and physical education. Stockwell wants to be a teacher so she can create a positive, fun and comfortable learning experience for her students. She is very thankful for her teachers at Screven County High School.
Gage Williams is attending East Georgia State College and plans on transferring to Georgia Southern University and majoring n physical education. He wants to become a teacher and football coach because he enjoys working with children and he loves football. Williams hopes to encourage children to work hard in school and also on the field.
Two other Class of 2020 graduates – Shelby Johnston and Alyssa King – were unable to attend because of college obligations.
Johnston is attending school at Georgia College in Milledgeville and was taking finals as she is majoring in elementary education. Johnston completed the early childhood education pathway and interned with Kelly Johnston. She wants to become a teacher because she is very passionate about working with children and she hopes to make a difference in their lives.
King recently finished her first year at Georgia Southern University and is majoring in elementary education. King completed the early childhood education pathway and interned with Beth Wooten in kindergarten. She wants to become a teacher to support, encourage and inspire her students to always do their best. She gives credit to many of her teachers at Screven County High School for influencing her decision to become a teacher.
The SCHS Class of 2021 has four students who have career plans in education.
Sydney Dirst is attending Georgia Southern University in the fall. Dirst is pursuing a degree in elementary education. She completed the early childhood education pathway and interned with Mary Beth Webb. Dirst decided to become an educator because she enjoys working with children and it seems like a very rewarding job. Dirst also wants to be a positive role model for her students. Her grandmother is a retired teacher and her father is a teacher at Screven County Middle School. They both influenced her decision to become an educator.
Mariah Rhodes is attending Georgia Southern University in the fall and majoring in secondary education with an emphasis in history. Rhodes completed the early childhood education pathway last year and interned with Valarie Sapp in pre-k. She has always loved history and enjoys being with children. Rhodes hopes to motivate her students to do their best and also aspires to instill a love of learning in all students.
Kamiyah Seabrooks is attending East Georgia State College in the fall. After two years, Seabrooks plans to transfer to Georgia Southern University and pursue a career in elementary education. She has always imagined being an educator. She has always dreamed of shaping the minds of tomorrow and she enjoys working with children. As an educator, she wants to have an impact on children’s lives in the same way her grandmother does at Screven County Elementary School.
PJ Flowers was unable to attend the ceremony because of his involvement in the Manufacture Ready Program. Flowers is attending Georgia Southern University in the fall and pursuing a degree in special education. He also completed the early childhood education pathway. Flowers wants to become a teacher because he wants to help prepare his students to become productive and well-rounded students.
“Teaching is a very commendable and rewarding job and I wish each one of you the best in your future endeavors,” Pollock said.