A PROJECT OF RURAL SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE & NREA

Brittany Williams

Brittany Williams, University Charter School kindergarten teacher in Livingston, Alabama, shares her first-year teaching experience.

January 15, 2019 |
Share

My hometown, Tuscaloosa, is located along the banks of the Black Warrior River in west-central, Alabama. Tuscaloosa is not a rural community, but rather a semi-large town that is home to the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team. Though there are much larger cities near Tuscaloosa, we have about 100,000 residents and a thriving business community.

Whether it was reading to students in a lower grade or helping a classmate understand how to play a game or complete a task, I found enjoyment in helping others during my elementary years. As a student, learning was done through exploration, inquiry, and play; this made learning exciting. As a teacher, those experiences, as well as helping others, influenced my desire to go into teaching.

The most exciting aspect of my first year has been the realization of how rewarding this career is. I find so much honor in planning, creating, and teaching. The reward is not found just in what I present to my students each day, but also in how much joy they bring to me and what they teach me. Teaching at the first integrated school in this community has been even more rewarding knowing that I am making a difference not only in my classroom, but also in this special community.

The biggest surprise is realizing that teaching is an on-going career that doesn't fit into the 9AM-5PM bracket you may see in other careers. Even though my students may have gone home for the day or home for the weekend, I am constantly figuring out how I can make my students’ learning experience more effective and engaging. My love for teaching is what drives me to continue to learn and grow as a professional.

I do feel like I am a member of the community in the small town of Livingston. I have lived here for 5 years, which includes my undergraduate experience at the University of West Alabama. Since I graduated and began teaching, I have enjoyed teaching my kids about this special community we live in. I have also enjoyed exploring Livingston through community events.

I graduated magna cum laude from the University of West Alabama with a 3.8 GPA. While attending UWA, I became a University Ambassador and Campus Activities Board director. My role as an ambassador was to provide campus tours to visiting high school students and represent the school during on campus events. As a Campus Activities Board Director, I planned a variety of social and diverse events for students throughout the year. I am also Black Belt Teacher Corps Scholar, which is a program to address teacher shortages in the Black Belt region through teacher preparation, leadership training, and service projects.

It is very vital to learn about and be intentional about loving the community in which you teach. Make it a priority to find out what makes that community special. The more you learn about that particular community, the more you will know your students and their culture and values.

Previous ALL STORIES Next

Amanda Bedell - Charlevoix County, MI

October 8, 2024

A Michigan island serves as a classroom where the school is the community.

Regional Hubs, Indiana & Great Lakes, Place-Based Education, Teacher Profile, Rural Resilience, Teacher Feature: Michigan

Connie Skrmetta - Delisle, MS

August 20, 2024

Highlighting the innovative programs created and led by Mississippi Rural Teacher of the Year winner, Connie Skrmetta, the Health and Physical Education Teacher at DeLisle Elementary School in DeLisle, MS.

Regional Hubs, Power of Partnerships, Place-Based Education, Local Philanthropy, Teacher Profile, Teacher Feature: Mississippi, Mississippi

Todd Willis - Tate County, MS

July 9, 2024

Highlighting the innovative programs created and led by Mississippi Rural Teacher of the Year winner, Todd Willis, an innovative 3rd grade Teacher at Coldwater Elementary School in Tate County, MS.

Regional Hubs, Place-Based Education, Local Philanthropy, Teacher Profile, Teacher Feature: Mississippi, Mississippi