Story by Jen Jordan / January 16, 2024
At which MSS campus do you teach?
Meeting Street – Burns
Why did you decide to be a teacher?
Ever since I was a little girl, I always dreamt of being a teacher. I would come home each day and play “school” with my younger sister and teach her about the material I was learning on a whiteboard. Ever since then, I have loved working with students in various settings and making a positive impact on their education. I still remember some of my favorite teachers and the impact they had on me, and I can only hope to do the same for my scholars.
Why do you choose to stay in the classroom?
It’s all about the relationships! I love my students like they are my own children, and I enjoy watching them grow and develop throughout the course of the school year. I can’t imagine starting my day any other way than receiving 20 hugs, high fives, or fist bumps as my students walk through the door!
What is the most challenging part of being a teacher?
The most challenging part of being a teacher is coming to terms with the fact that the TO-DO List is never ending. Learning how to prioritize your TO-DO list is key to maintaining a work-life balance, while still feeling prepared and organized.
What is the most rewarding part of being a teacher?
The most rewarding part is celebrating students’ success. The smile that spreads across a child’s face when they accomplish something that was challenging or overcome an obstacle, is PRICELESS.
Why did you choose to teach at Meeting Street Schools?
Meeting Street Schools stood out to me because it offers teachers an opportunity to grow and learn alongside their students. Evaluations and observations can seem intimidating at first, but Meeting Street puts a huge emphasis on feedback and growth for their teachers too. The support that I receive from my team, my coach, and my principal is unlike anything I have ever been a part of before.
What makes Meeting Street Schools different?
Meeting Street Schools sets high goals and expectations for ALL students, and will work continuously until those goals are met. Through collaboration, interpreting data, feedback, and observations teachers and students work together to achieve the highest level of excellence. MSS is always aiming to be better, to do better, and to obtain better results for kids!
If you were to write a letter to yourself during your first year of teaching giving yourself advice, what would you say?
I would tell myself to breathe and to focus on all of the positive things that happen each day! It is so easy to focus on what went poorly or what needs to be adjusted, but you have to learn to take a step back and put all the AMAZING things you are doing each and every day into perspective. Mistakes will happen, lessons will go poorly, but coming in fresh each day will help you and your students remain positive and optimistic throughout the school year!
Join a community of incredible, passionate people working to change the lives of our students. Our compensation and benefits are a cut above the rest: the most competitive total compensation in the region.
Start Your Career!Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), and MS-Jasper & Beaufort (Jasper, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.
Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.
While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.
Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a school—it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.
MSA Spartanburg stands as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. MSA Spartanburg is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
MS Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this school is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, MS Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. MS Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the MSS network.
Located in a community rich with history and culture, MS Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at MS Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. MS Burns exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, MS Burns is forging a new path in public education.
MS Jasper represents the Meeting Street Schools’ dedication to community-based education with a global perspective. The school provides a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to explore their potential and cultivate a love for learning. With its diverse programs such as Eureka Math, and Wit and Wisdom, MS Jasper puts a major emphasis on character development, specialized learning and equips students to become thoughtful, engaged members of society, reflecting the MSS ethos of empowerment through education.
“We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”
“MSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”
Meeting Street Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, or national or ethnic in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships or loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.
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