day in the life of...

Meet some of our wonderful educators of the Junior League of Beaumont! From classroom teachers, to college professors, to special education advocates, the Junior League of Beaumont has many educational leaders whose passion for teaching and learning alike drive them make a difference in the lives of our children and our communities.

Meet the Teachers!

Maegan Collins

Title: College Professor

Years in the field: 5

Teaches: Undergraduate Government and Graduate Public Administration

René Ford

Title: Educational Diagnostician

Years in the field: 26

Qualifies students for: Special Education Services

Sarah Fox

Title: High School Teacher

Years in the field: 8

Teaches: 9th and 10th Grade Biology

What made you choose this career?

• I always wanted to be a teacher from the time I was very little. However, I also had equal passion for government and politics because my parents always educated me on its importance. I was blessed to be able to work in both the government and higher education student support fields before being given the opportunity to teach full-time. Being a full-time university faculty member is my dream job because I get to continue my love for political science, but also get to go in the classroom every day and live out my childhood dream. - Maegan

• Our family friends included some children with special needs. They were my heroes...Special Education as a career was due to their inspiration! - René

• Working with high schoolers on ACT and SAT prep when I was in college! - Sarah

Mandy Street

Title: Elementary Teacher

Years in the field: 10

Teaches: 4th Grade Math and Science Karley Zummo

Title: Middle School Teacher

Years in the field: 6

Teaches: 7th and 8th Grade English Language Arts

Melaney Villery-Samuel

Title: College Professor, Distance Learning Administrator

Years in the field: 8

Teaches: Business Law and Government

• My grandmother and aunt were both teachers. I really love to learn and be in a learning environment.

- Mandy

• I have a lot of family in education. My mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, several cousins…I come from a long line of educators! I grew up playing “teacher” in my mom’s classroom. I always knew I wanted to do this.

- Karley

• I was an undergrad majoring in journalism at Tennessee State University and I had this English teacher, Dr. Samantha Morgan-Curtis, who inspired me so much that I added an English minor just so I could take more of her classes. Her magical charm as a teacher was infectious to the point that she passed the bug on to me. I think I realized since grade school that good and caring teachers make a difference, and I wanted to be part of that. Dr. Morgan-Curtis made me want to work for a University and teach young adults the skills they needed to change their lives. - Melaney

How do you start and end your day at work?

• Contrary to what people may think, university faculty work long hours! I start my day by getting to the office at least an hour before class starts, where I get caught up on emails that may have been sent overnight. I also check recent news to see if there's anything I can use as lecture examples because I like to keep my class very relevant. I then teach for a couple hours, meet with students, and tackle other administrative tasks. I leave the office around 6:00 p.m., where I then go home to work on research or writing that I didn’t get to finish at the office since I’m also a full-time doctoral student. I usually end my work day around 9:00 p.m.! - Maegan

• My work day begins with a commute. During the commute, I listen to podcasts that have to do with the Bible Verses that were read as part of my daily study. After the short podcast my coffee and prayer time begins as mental preparedness for the meetings that were planned and prepared and meetings that pop up because of issues (that's where the prayer comes in handy). I end my day with the radio off and contemplate issues during my commute home. - René

• First and last thing I do when I arrive and leave my classroom is feed our class fish, America. - Sarah

• I start my day in my classroom prepping for my day and going through materials that will be taught for that specific day. I end my day with car or bus duty.Mandy

• My day begins with a classroom full of rambunctious 13 year olds and a hot cup of coffee! I end my day by making sure all of my materials and presentations are prepped for the next day. I drive home in silence most days to unwind from all of the excitement, questions, decisions, and the many “Mrs. Zummo!’s” of my day.

- Karley

• Post COVID isolation years, I've started most of my days with exercise at 6:00 a.m. on youtube with my rescue dog Cleopatra standing by in wonder and judgment as I do my best to hold my planks. After that, I make a hearty breakfast, shower, dress, make a chai tea, and then head off to work. I end my day with meetings in one of the five community organizations I'm in and dinner and t.v. with my husband, or by running outside with my dog for evening exercise (got to get those steps in), and then dinner with my husband. After dinner, I usually listen to audiobooks as I shower for the night, and then continue that into bedtime while playing mindless solitaire until Mr. Sandman finds me. - Melaney

What do you wish your students’ parents knew ?

• I know that parents worry about their young adults when they are in college, and I want them to know that it is completely normal to do so. I want to reassure them that their students are being the kind, compassionate, and strong individuals that they taught them to be. Let them design their own path and have grace with your students when they do not earn the grade(s) you believe they should be making. I promise that they are still learning in their courses and are receiving a ton of life lessons along the way. Mental health and personal development are way more important than that "A"! - Maegan

• My biggest wish for my students and parents is that the students become and feel successful. - René

• I want the parents to know that they are raising good people. A lot of parents get tied up in a students’ academic performance, but at the end of the day, what matters most is that they are turning into great young adults for our communities. - Sarah

• I wish parents know that we love their children and only want to help them become the very best! - Mandy

• I want all parents to know and remember that teachers choose this profession because they love kids. Teachers wear many hats, we love our students, and we only have the very best of intentions for them! - Karley

What time do you eat lunch?

• I usually eat lunch on the go! I do not have a set lunch hour due to the most popular class times spanning from 11:00 to 2:00. - Maegan

• My lunch time varies depending on the needs of students, parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, service providers and administrators. Most of the time lunch happens alongside my preparations for the next meeting or report. - René

• 11:00 am - Sarah

• 10:40 am - Mandy

• Luckily, I eat lunch around noon. In previous years I’ve had to eat lunch at 10:30, which never felt like lunch!

- Karley

• I don't generally stop for lunch until 1:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. Sometimes, I even work through my lunch because there is just so much to do, and I'm anal about my calendar being set and my inbox being empty when I leave work each day. - Melaney

What is the most memorable thing you’ve learned from this profession?

• College students have kind hearts and are so empathetic towards others. Students have come to me asking how they can help other students and the community, which resulted in them organizing a work day at the Humane Society, collecting a whole office full of canned goods for the food bank after the latest hurricane, and writing thank you notes to support staff who kept us afloat during the pandemic. I will always be grateful for getting to see this side of college students that is not often portrayed.

- Maegan

• The most memorable thing I have learned from this profession is collaboration with others to problem solve in order to see students (parents, other teachers, administrators, etc.) succeed is very rewarding! - René

• Mercy. The importance of giving kids mercy when they make mistakes and the grace to come back from those mistakes. No one is defined by their mistakes alone.

- Sarah

• The light bulb moments. When a student understands something for the first time and their face lights up and a big smile appears! - Mandy

• I shared this realization with my principal just the other day. I do not have children of my own yet, but the most valuable thing I’ve learned from this profession is what kind of parent I want to be one day. - Karley

Would you choose this career path again?

• Absolutely! I love getting to interact and know each student because they have life testimonies that encourage me to be a better leader and person. I could write about this at length, but I have incredible students that I am honored to teach every day.

- Maegan

• Yes, this would be my choice as a career path again! It is rewarding to see students succeed. - René

• I choose it each and every day and will continue to choose it. - Sarah

• Yes! I get to share my love for learning daily. - Mandy

• Oh yes, I would! Teaching may not be the perfect profession (what job is?), but not all jobs can fulfill you the way teaching can. - Karley

• I feel like I'm in the right place to become a legend like Dr. Morgan-Curtis and I would choose this career path again and again if given the chance! - Melaney

What industry changes have you experienced , good and bad?

• The pandemic has greatly impacted higher education institutions across the nation and unfortunately has not ended. Enrollment and retention numbers are down at many institutions, students lack academic preparation due to online pandemic learning (which should not be blamed on teachers), and the financial burden of college has become too much to bear for many. However, the pandemic has also brought a lot of positive changes to higher education, such as improving online learning, increasing student support services, having meaningful connections with students, and focusing more on access and equity. -

Maegan

• Industry changes...bad subject. Lawmakers do not have a good grasp on what it takes to make a difference in special education, but educators have a heart for what they do and do the best they can anyway! - René

• Good: Community support has seemed to increase for teachers and schools since the pandemic. Bad: Student attention span seems to gradually be getting shorter and shorter each year, which requires new approaches in the classroom. - Sarah

• The industry has changed tremendously in the past 10 years. I have learned to embrace change. Education is continually changing - technology, teaching methods, students…Every year is a new year with new challenges.

- Mandy

• BAD: Having to teach in a mask for 8 hours straight during the pandemic! With little to no physical contact or close proximity to my students to assist their educational needs or build on relationships! GOOD: Two words. Google. Classroom. Amazing technology I wish I had access to as a student! - Karley