Honor Your Favorite

HonoR YouR FAvoRiTe TeAcHeR

Memories of engaging, visual Lessons Remain vivid

By Dr. Michele Williams Taylor, superintendent of Calhoun City Schools and PAGE Foundation trustee

Engaged students are attentive, persistent and commit- This competitive challenge created a fun learning environment ted. When engaged in learning, students value and find in which being engaged was the norm. meaning in the work and learn to their full potential. Mrs. Campbell was an extraordinary teacher who brought Throughout my school career, I was fortunate to have my share of history to life with every lesson. Entering her classroom was great teachers, but it was Mrs. Sherry Campbell who engaged me like stepping into a time machine. The learning was relevant and made the most impact on who I am today. and the lessons were engaging. Decades later, after teacher

Mrs. Campbell was my eighth-grade social studies teacher. education courses and reflections about my own educational By connecting on a personal level, she demonstrated that she experiences, I see how much time, effort and planning went cared about me. She believed in me more than I believed in into Mrs. Campbell’s teaching. She never did anything halfmyself. Her classroom had rituals and routines. We knew what way; it was always a full-fledged production. Lights, camera, to expect and we knew that she wanted us to be successful. We action—the classroom was a stage. Mrs. Campbell always said also knew that we had to listen and be prepared to share what she wanted to be an actress, so she pretended that we were the we had learned. Those who were a part of Mrs. Campbell’s class audience. She got to perform to a new group every class period. loved the “Wiggle” and learned how to compete for the top seat. I will never forget the story of the Alamo. To this day, I can visualize the reenactment in class. I was a somewhat timid eighth grader who Lights, camera, lacked self-confidence. Mrs. Campbell knew action—the that I loved to sing, and she encouraged me to enter the eighth-grade talent show. Actually, classroom was I don’t think I had a say so in the matter. She a stage. Mrs. said, “Michele, you can sing so you’re going to participate in the upcoming talent showcase.” Campbell always Her encouragement empowered me to share said she wanted to be an actress, so she my love of music. I began singing solos at church and later tried out for a part in the senior play. pretended that we were the audience. After high school graduation, I attended Shorter College to pursue a degree in education. I’ll never forget calling Mrs. Campbell to see if I Sherry Campbell could complete my student teaching experience in her classroom. She was an excellent supervising teacher! She gave me great feedback and support throughout the practicum experience. I couldn’t wait to go to school every day so that I could learn something new from her. Upon graduation, I was ecstatic to know that I would be teaching down the hall from her. Naturally, she served as my mentor, and when I became a peer administrator, I turned to Mrs. Campbell for advice. Mrs. Campbell was there for me as a student, a teacher and administrator, and I will be forever grateful for her support. She continues to be a strong supporter of Calhoun City Schools and an advocate for the CalhounDr. Michele Taylor Gordon County community. n

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