To my amazing, beautiful, dedicated and perseverant staff
I wish that every teacher in America had the privilege of doing what you do each day.
The students you serve adore you and each day they give you their best and put aside their own challenges so they can rise up to meet your expectations.
I've seen so many of you sacrifice everything just because you want to put our students first. From 7 a.m. through 3:30 p.m., you bring your best to our children and you help them all understand their worth and their abilities; in short, you ensure that they all can realize their dreams.
You all know what is at stake here in Jefferson County. You know that we must go above and beyond, all day long - Whatever it Takes; All Means All. We never quit! We never accept less than excellence! We never stop believing that all of our students are our future. Each and every day we never forget to tell our children we love them.
We never forget to call them on things that are wrong because if you do not do this, you enable them to be okay with failing. It's okay to make mistakes, it is better to learn from them.
You are the best of the best. Together we can change the entire world. But we MUST be TOGETHER. We love you, We appreciate you, We admire you.
Love,
Your Admin Team
Indy Mack: Empowering with knowledge
at Jefferson Somerset
Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
At Jefferson Somerset, Indy Goodwin Mack is one of the teachers who's relentless love for learning and education is infectious and transfers onto the spirits of the children she instructs.
Jefferson County is home to Mack; while she was born in Miami, Fla., Mack was primarily raised in Jefferson County and in 1988, she graduated from Jefferson High School.
From there, Mack would attend Florida A&M University, where she obtained a Bachelor's and Master's degree.
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” explains Mack. “There have been many individuals in my life to help to motivate me to become a teacher like Rosa Sloan, Gloria Norton and Jimmy Norton, but the one who has influenced me the most is my mom, Gladys Goodwin.”
According to Mack, she credits her mother with being her first teacher, and Mack holds fond memories of learning at her mother's knee.
“No matter what circumstances I faced, she would never let me use it as an excuse. 'You can do whatever you want, you are more than a conquerer were her words to me,” adds Mack. “So with her encouragement and the help of the Lord, I am a teacher.”
Then, 27 years ago, Mack fully embraced her calling and became a teacher in the Jefferson County School District.
Much has happened between now and then, she acknowledges, and she has taught pre-kindergarten, first, third and fifth grades.
When the Jefferson County school system was placed in the hands of the Somerset Charter, Mack was one of the teachers who moved into the new school and has earned lofty praises from the Somerset administrators at the school.
Principal Cory Oliver calls Mack, who now teaches fifth grade, a “forever Tiger” who changes lives.
“Indy Mack is a teacher that has never once shown up at school and brought any negativity,” writes Oliver. “She has opened doors for so many children in our county. I cannot imagine my life as an educational leader without having worked with her.”
Mack believes her own strength as an educator comes from the relationships and rapport she has established with her young students and their families, as well as her innovative teaching strategies that allow her to think outside the box when it comes to educating her students.
“I believe that all students can learn and so many students don’t believe that they can,” adds Mack. “So I eagerly try to motivate and prove to my students, as well as the community, how talented and intelligent the students of Jefferson County truly are.”
As a former Jefferson County student herself, Mack recalls a teacher of her own who inspired that same self-belief and inspiration into the young girl she once was.
Naomi Cummings, Mack says, had a profound impact on Mack's young life.
“She was a kindergarten teacher. She was a no-nonsense teacher, but she cared and it was evident in her actions. I love how she took time to help you and make sure you were prepared,” says Mack. “[There] wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do to make sure you were ready to learn. Her positive influence and prim persona help to mold my decision to be educated, pristine and strut like a turkey.”
And while Mack is now the teacher, tasked with inspiring her students just as Ms. Cummings once inspired her, Mack adds that her students are teaching her a lot as well.
“Students are very abreast on the latest technology, whatever is new and electronic the students can help me with it,” she says. “I’ve learned that students are hungry for knowledge and they really try hard, but they will only go as far as you push them. So I’ve learned to have high expectations and amazingly enough they rise every year to the expectation.”
It is a pleasure, Mack says, to be able to watch her students experience their special “aha” moments when life and lessons finally 'click' in place and they understand how to accomplish a task at school or home.
“It is a pleasure to see my students obtain success after toiling over challenging concepts,” says Mack, fondly. “I also feel like it’s worthwhile when I see them graduate and begin life on their own. It makes me feel like I had a part in their journey of becoming a global citizens. I feel blessed to have been in this county all these years and still feel a sense of family and togetherness.”
Indy Mack is married to her husband, Norman Mack, and the couple have three children: Christopher, Nortory and Norman T, as well as four granddaughters: Zamariah, Torri, Cierra and Kristianna.
In whatever spare time she gets, Mack enjoys singing and shopping.
She is a member of the Greater Fellowship M. B. Church, which is pastored by Rev. Dr. Melvin Roberts. At her church, Mack serves as the youth director, president of the choir, a Sunday school teacher and a member of other various organizations within the church body.
Her personal life motto was spoken by Francis Bacon and is: “I believe that knowledge is power.”
To all of the teachers in our community and beyond
Education is a calling. Educators are called to different types of schools---public, private, charter and more. But, we are all called to the same mission. Impacting lives through education is one of the most powerful responsibilities that exists. Lives are changed every day through the important work that you do. Teaching is challenging and often times difficult. This is true now more than ever.
As you continue to finish the school year with excellence, know that you are appreciated. You are appreciated by your school community and by the families that you serve. You continue to impact the future as you mold young lives. Many lives have been forever changed in a positive way because of your sincere caring and deep passion.
Happy Teachers’ Appreciation Week! Thank you for your commitment to your students and for your dedication to teaching. I pray that God will continue to provide you with His strength, enthusiasm, peace and joy as you impact lives academically and spiritually.
Know that He loves you and appreciates this important work that you do for Him.
In Christ,
Richard Finlayson
Principal
Roslyn Bass: Encouraging students
at Aucilla Christian Academy
Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Roslyn Bass is a third grade teacher and Elementary Faculty Director at Aucilla Christian Acadermy (ACA).
While Bass' teaching career at ACA began 16 years ago, she has much deeper roots to the Jefferson County Christian elementary, middle and high school.
In her youth, Bass attended ACA and graduated with the Class of 1995; after finishing her high school education, Bass left Jefferson County to attend St. Petersburg Jr. College and the Chipola Junior College on a softball scholarship. Bass furthered her advanced education after graduating from Chipola, as she moved onto Florida State University, where she obtained a degree in recreation therapy; with her degree, Bass took employment with a private company, where she taught job training skills to welfare clients – that job took her to Panama City, Fla., Perry Fla. and then eventually back to Monticello.
It was shortly after her arrival in Monticello, Bass says, that she was approached by ACA Principal Richard Finlayson.
“[He] asked if I was interested in interviewing for a kindergarten position at ACA,” said Bass, who agreed to an interview, even though she had no prior experience teaching children. “They must have thought I could go from teaching adults to five-year-olds, because they offered me the job.”
Returning to her own former school, Bass began teaching kindergarten and was blessed to work alongside one of her own former teachers – Linda Wheeler, who had taught Bass' kindergarten class as a child.
Now, 16 years into her ACA career, Bass says she has taught every grade between K-3 to third grade, excluding first grade.
Teaching runs in Bass' blood – her mother, Kathy Joyner, had been an educator since 1974 and only just recently retired.
“She loved teaching and working with children,” explains Bass.
Her mother's love for teaching “got in” Bass' blood, as well as that of Bass' sister – Ginni Joyner – as both sisters are teachers today; Bass, at ACA and Joyner at a Wakulla County school.
“We knew in our hearts that we were called to be teachers,” adds Bass.
It wasn't just her mother who helped shape her into the person and educator that she is today, though.
“I can recall many teachers in my early years who shaped my learning and my character. My first Pre-school teacher and Kindergarten teacher was Linda Wheeler. From her I learned to love school. She made school fun and we didn’t even realize we were learning,” says Bass. “Many other teachers, like Charlotte Sims, Judy Carney, Debbie Love and Patricia Patterson taught me how to work hard and never give up.”
Bass was also blessed to work alongside some of her own former teachers at ACA after taking a job as a teacher herself; teachers such as Linda Wheeler and Debbie Love were there to guide Bass into her new role as a youth educator and kindergarten teacher.
With 16 years under her belt, Bass says she has also learned a lot from the students as well.
“I think some of the most important lessons that I have learned as a teacher is to give grace, be patient and that everyone learns differently. Every child has moments of success and failure and I want to be the teacher who encourages them in both of these situations,” says Bass. “I have also learned that every child wants to be praised and loved. I try and look for opportunities in my class to do both.”
Her ability to see her students' individual successes and find new ways to praise their achievements goes into what Bass feels is ultimately her greatest strength as a teacher: her ability to connect with people and get to know who people really are.
With her ability to connect and form strong relationships with her students comes the unique stories that only 16-years of teaching can provide.
Bass fondly remembers several “goofy things” her students have said or done.
“I’ve had a student ask if I was pregnant, and clearly not been; one student asked what happened to my face when I forgot my make-up. One day I was running on campus to get the school van that I was going to drive to a basketball game and I heard my student say, 'Look everybody Mrs. Roslyn is running. I didn’t even know she could run!'” Bass says with humor. “I do know this, every day is truly an adventure when teaching children.”
But while the relationships formed with her students, their parents and her co-faculty at the school have been precious parts of her 16-year career, Bass says there is another part of working at ACA that is precious to her.
“The best part of working at ACA is that I get to share Christ with all of the students there,” she says. “Getting to pray, read scripture, and talk about the Bible with them is such a true blessing.”
One of the biblical verses that she has taken to heart and enjoys sharing with her students is Proverbs 3:5-6, which reads: “Trust the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make straight your path.”
The verse, Bass says, has much meaning in her own life.
“The Lord has truly blessed my life and my path more abundantly than I could ever deserve.”
For 19 years, Bass has been married to her husband Kent Bass, who is also an ACA Alumni.
The couple has two children, 15-year-old Brewster and 13-year-old Ethan, both of whom attend ACA.
The Bass family attends Elizabeth Baptist Church, in Monticello and enjoy spending their time going to church, playing tennis, traveling and riding bikes together.
In addition to her teaching, Bass has coached JV and Varsity softball and is currently coaching the middle school basketball team at ACA.
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