WOODVILLE Amazing describes CJ Whitaker, Wilkinson County Christian Academy’s A+mazing Teacher Of The Month.
Whitaker said that’s because she is surrounded by other amazing teachers who have her back through the best and worst of times.
“I’m just a product of my environment,” Whitaker said. “I’m surrounded by amazing teachers. I have those who will step up to encourage you and you also have those that kind of pave the way.”
A pool of online voters voted Whitaker the A+mazing Teacher Of The Month at the elementary school level. The contest is sponsored by Sabrina Dore’ of Shelter Insurance Agency and The Democrat.
“It’s an honor and I feel so blessed but I’m blown away at the same time,” Whitaker said of getting the most votes in the contest.
She has been a fourth grade teacher for six years, and she previously taught prekindergarten at WCCA. Whitaker began teaching pre-kindergarten in her first year of motherhood. Whitaker said that she began teaching fourth-grade when her oldest child, now 11, entered school.
“I love it. They’re young enough that they still love you and want to please you but old enough to be independent,” she said.
Whitaker stated that she is often taking care of her three children when she isn’t teaching. Whitaker is a mother to a nine-year-old girl and a seven year-old son.
“I’m a softball coach for my girls and I’m the chauffeur to all of their sporting events,” she said.
When she isn’t at school or softball practice or games, she is usually at church, where her husband Warren is a pastor, she said.
Whitaker’s uniqueness as a teacher comes down to her ability to make learning enjoyable.
“I feel like education is not just sitting at a desk doing bookwork,” she said. “You want to try and reach all the levels of learning, even if it’s having to make a game out of something. There are so many ways you can teach that it is not enough to sit and lecture. Making it fun and something they want to do is my goal.”
The best part, Whitaker said, is when students “get it.”
“When you’re teaching your heart out and they get it, it’s like this light bulb goes off in their head and they’re proud of themselves for getting it,” she said. “That is by far the best part.”
She said that the hardest part of teaching is reaching students and motivating them to learn. This was especially true during COVID, when students were learning online. Whitaker stated that it was difficult to connect with her children through a screen or window, even in a small school in Woodville.
“They feel like family so they have our cell phones and could still call us and get that one-on-one time even if we couldn’t be in the same room with them,” she said.
Whitaker stated that encouragement from others is what keeps her going in the most difficult situations.
“My coworkers are so encouraging and loving that I wouldn’t be able to do it without them,” she said. “We also have a great headmaster. I feel like students want to perform for the people that they love and as a school, we want the best for them.”