Teacher of the Year 2007-2008
Crista Black

My Step into Education
“Every journey begins with a single step”- Lao Tsu

When reflecting on the influences in my career and my pathway to becoming an educator, the faces are myriad. Educators have been one of the greatest influences in my life. Not only those individuals whom I was privileged enough to have as teachers, but also my mother and grandmother which I consider to be the greatest examples of what true educators exemplify. In my mind’s eye this would be an individual who selflessly continues to strive to provide the experiences needed for students so that they too can be motivated to become life-long learners. So many taught me that while it is important to learn the core subjects, it is just as important to develop a student’s character and integrity. This realization of who I am is just as important as what I know has been a guiding principle in my life. I have had a model provided for me which portrays school days always beginning much earlier than 7:30 a.m. and ending much later than 3:10 p.m. It is evident that having dedicated and committed educators in my family greatly influenced my career in education.

Many teachers have impacted my career in education. If I had to choose one that had the greatest impact, I would have to say it was my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Mayfield. A Chinese proverb wisely states, “Every journey begins with a single step,” and kindergarten was that step for me. It was during that initial year of schooling that Mrs. Mayfield provided the foundation and motivation for learning. She taught me the importance of valuing each child for their uniqueness and individuality. Her pleasant words each day made me feel as if I were the most important student in the class. Greeting us each day at the door with her warm smile and enthusiastic attitude made her the perfect role model.

Even at this very early age, I felt the call to be a teacher and because of the educational background of family members, others who influenced me through the years, and simple events that impacted my life, I was persuaded to educate others. Once this decision was made, I have never looked back and wondered why I chose this field. It was with Mrs. Mayfield’s inspirational words of earlier years still reverberating in my mind and heart that I entered my senior year of college. I was asked to join the Senior Inquiry Research Scholar program under the direction of Dr. Elizabeth Foster and this provided me the opportunity to serve in a kindergarten setting. As I joined the classroom of Mrs. Jeannie Bassett, I reflected on the importance of a child’s first year of school and taught kindergarten. From my experiences in this area, I realized how much I appreciated the work of educators in the developmental grades. Not only was I attempting to develop the child’s social skills and early cognitive skills, but also providing the early experiences that offered a foundation to be successful, just as so many had done for me. This humbling challenge sparked my career as a teacher.

In the past, I have been very fortunate to have been taught and mentored by educators who possess the qualities of confidence, discernment, humility, integrity and wisdom. For the past five years, it has been my privilege to affect the lives of my students and to impart the qualities of guidance and knowledge that have been given to me. With each year, I learn and grow from the joy that students provide me with as their teacher and mentor. The small celebrations that I have experienced each day with my kindergarteners, first graders, and at present my sixth grade students have made my career rewarding. Whether I am teaching or providing a listening ear, students motivate me to strive to be the best role model so that I can encourage them to be their best. Ultimately, this leads all of us to try to make the world a better place in which to live. I am committed to providing the same rewarding experiences to my Pine Tree students that others provided for me because I know that education is the foundation of a society. The experiences and events in my life have helped me to regard my position as a privilege and with each single step. I want to strive to serve students’ cognitive, emotional, physical, and social needs each day. I want to always remember that eighty-five percent of accomplishment is because of attitude and that only fifteen percent is because of technical expertise. Nothing great has ever been accomplished without enthusiasm. Mrs. Mayfield taught me this many years ago as she set the standards that impacted the beginning of my educational pathway as a kindergartner. The adventures since that time have been phenomenal, and I look forward to continuing to walk down the pathway of service.