Teacher of the Month

Samantha Willis

Rehobeth Elementary School

“Second grade is a grade of incredible growth. I love seeing the students change and grow academically and mature during the year,” said Mrs. Samantha Willis. “Students transition from learning to read to reading to learn in second grade, and I aim to add loving to read to that transition.”

Mrs. Willis has been a teacher for 25 years at Rehobeth Elementary in Dothan, Alabama. She decided to begin teaching because of her love for children. Mrs. Willis describes herself as a kid at heart and explains that teaching allows her to embrace that. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Troy University.

“I felt becoming a teacher would allow me to spend time with children while helping them grow to be the best version of themselves,” she said. Outside of a strong love for reading, Mrs. Willis hopes her students will leave her classroom knowing their value.

“I want them to know they are not their grade,” Mrs. Willis explained. “They are a child of God. Who they are is what is in their heart, their words, and their actions. High grades, fancy clothes, and expensive things will not change that.”

Mrs. Willis was nominated as our Wiregrass Teacher of the Month by Katelyn Carter, whose daughter is currently in Mrs. Willis’ second-grade class.

“She is really helping my daughter push her reading skills to new levels and encouraging so much growth in reading, which my daughter is developing such a passion for,” said Katelyn.

Mrs. Willis attributes her motivation to teach to teaching the kids to read.

“I feel a great responsibility to improve each child’s reading ability. Although I am not, I look at it as if I will be their last reading teacher,” said Mrs. Willis. “I must do all I can to have each child reading on grade level to prepare them for the future. So, I teach reading with passion and great urgency. I want to set them up for success.”

Samantha Willis has been married to her husband Billy for 28 years. They have two children, Abby [Taylor] Lee and Adam. They are active members at Covenant United Methodist Church. Mrs. Willis is their church relations volunteer with Operation Christmas Child. The family enjoys traveling, playing cards and putting puzzles together.

Sponsored by Dothan Pediatric Healthcare Network

Develop a Reading Routine

Reading and language are crucial to a child’s development. My own mother read to me every night as a kid, and it fostered a life-long love of books and learning.

Studies show that reading aloud to children, even infants, more than just talking to them increases their vocabulary, IQ, and educational skills when it is time to start school. A child’s vocabulary at age 3 is the single greatest predictor of their ability to read in 3rd grade. These educational benefits eventually translate to improved health outcomes later in life. One study demonstrated children from lower-income families wind up hearing over 30 million words less than those from higher-income families by the age they start kindergarten. The language that they hear has to be directed at them to make an impact, so language heard on tablets or television shows does not contribute as much to language development.

So how can you prepare your child for school and learning at an early age? You can start reading with your child at a young age, even as early as three months old. Make bedtime reading a nightly routine. Parents should choose a quiet place without distractions, such as TV in the background. Engage your child’s interest by allowing them to set the pace and turn the pages. This will also help with fine motor skills. Texturized books with sounds are helpful for infants and toddlers. Use the illustrations to build the story and ask your child what they see. Encourage your child to say the words and phrases with you, and don’t be afraid to embrace your silly side and act out the characters! As children become older, asking them comprehension questions such as “What do you think might happen next?” can help further engage them.

Books can help with tackling difficult topics such as going to the doctor, handling chronic illness, and even the death of loved ones. They can also expose your child to diversity and help them explore the world around them, cultivating a sense of curiosity than can last a lifetime.

Dr. Grace Spears is a general pediatrician licensed by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. In August 2022 Dothan Pediatric Healthcare Network welcomed Dr. Spears as a pediatrician at Enterprise Pediatric Clinic.