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Simpson Central’s 2015-16 Teacher of the Year is Mrs. Jennifer Williamson of Magee. Mrs. Williamson has been teaching in the district since January of 2000. She is the wife of Chad Williamson and mother of Blaine Williamson, a fifth grader at Simpson Central. Mrs. Williamson is the daughter of R.D. and Bessie Brown of Mendenhall. She attends Corinth Baptist Church in Magee where she has been a member since 1993. Mrs. Williamson attributes her success as a teacher to her strong network of support and her faith in Christ.
Mrs. Williamson graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from University of Southern Mississippi in December 1999 where she was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, an International Honor Society for Education Majors. Mrs. Williamson has participated in several projects to further her knowledge and skills in the field of education such as the MS Teacher Leadership Project sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She has served on the State’s Social Studies Writing Committee. Mrs. Williamson currently serves as Grade Chair, participates in weekly Professional Learning Community meetings with administration where data driven decisions are made and plans for differentiation are discussed in order to meet the needs of individual students as well as the class as a whole. She currently serves on the SCSD ELA Committee. Mrs. Williamson also assists with duties at extracurricular events at SCS.
Mrs. Williamson loves her students and her coworkers and enjoys each day she is able to be at school in her Second Grade classroom. Before coming to Simpson Central in 2014, Mrs. Williamson taught 1st, 3rd, and 2nd grades (respectively) at Magee Elementary. Mrs. Williamson describes Simpson Central as a wonderful environment in which to work. Dr. Roma Morris and Mr. Joe Hanna, along with the other administrators at SCS, have a great impact on the school’s success and make it a wonderful place to teach!
After 15 years of teaching and having the opportunity to touch many lives and to be touched by so many, Mrs. Williamson is humbled as being selected Teacher of the Year! She believes that going the extra mile is a part of what makes her classroom a place that the children want to be. Mrs. Williamson says that seeing her former students when out and about is such a special part of having taught all these years. “It’s special to see these young men and women that you remember so fondly as being one of your ‘babies’ in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. It is a great feeling when they come to you and hug you and tell you that you were their favorite teacher! It really warms your heart and reminds you that even on the days that may seem a bit mundane, and at times- demanding, that it is absolutely worth coming in and giving your all in the classroom that day!”
Dr. Morris says of Mrs. Williamson, “Mrs. Williamson is such a ray of sunshine. She always has a positive attitude every day! When reading to the children, she brings the characters alive with different voices. It’s quite amazing to watch. She believes in giving her all and every student doing the same, but what is a hallmark of Mrs. Williamson, is that she doesn’t lose sight of enjoying the day and what they do in her classroom. We are thrilled to have Mrs. Williamson at SCS and feel very blessed to have such a highly effective teacher who stands firm in her Christian and moral values, and who always lifts the spirits of those around her. She is a fine role model for our staff, students, and community and reflective of the expected standards for Teacher of the Year!”
