I teach fourth grade. I’ve been in first through fourth in my career. Ultimately, I just like teaching. It really doesn’t matter who it is; I fall in love with them. It’s all about relationships. I want these kids to know there’s something beyond these four walls. That you are responsible. I keep this picture of myself in third grade – my class picture. It’s a permanent part of my day. I say, “If it wasn’t for this little girl here, I wouldn’t be where I am. She took the time to ask questions and raise her hand and just get involved and stay away from the foolishness and make good decisions.” I’m constantly referring to that little girl in the picture with my students and they make that connection. I say, “If it wasn’t for Little Sherry, Big Sherry wouldn’t be here. Big Sherry wouldn’t be this happy. I say, “You all are going to be the little people in your pictures one day.” And it’s funny because, the class picture we took, more than half my class ordered the class picture because they want to tell their stories one day. I tell them: “I understand how you feel sitting at that desk. Little Sherri felt the same way. Little Sherry didn’t want to do homework. I wanted to get outside and play. But what if little Sherry didn’t do her work?” To me, my job is to just give these kids their future, to remind them that it’s yours. You are responsible for it.
So, who did Little Sherry have in her life, like these students have in you?
Miss Peete! They know about Miss Peete. “Tell us about Miss Peete. Give us a Miss Peete story.” Everything is about Miss Peete. I said that when I grow up, I want to be a third-grade teacher just like Miss Peete. And I did. I became a third-grade teacher just like Miss Peete. So I’ve been looking for her. She’s a retired principal from Northside Middle in Norfolk, or junior high I guess it was back then. I can’t find her. I wanted her to come here and see these kids. EVERYBODY wants to meet Miss Peete.
