Top 10 Teacher: Mrs. Earnestine McRae

Once a month, for the last several months, The Journal has been highlighting some of Houston County School Board’s finest. Earlier this year, school board officials named the top 10 teachers around the county, and although we will continue to highlight those on the list through April of next year, we will close out 2021 with Hilltop Elementary School teacher, Mrs. Earnestine McRae.

Not only was McRae selected as Teacher of the Year at her respective school, but she was also named a Top 10 Teacher of the Year for the district as a whole. McRae called the double-honor a “blessing.”

Furthermore, she stated, “I am very humble and grateful to represent the teachers at Hilltop and be acknowledged as a Top 10 for the district. When I relocated to this district, I was ecstatic that I was going to be a part of such a phenomenal school district.”

For the past six years, this top 10 instructor has helped mold the minds of children at Hilltop, where she currently teaches first grade GTE (Gifted & Talented Education). However, McRae has spent far longer—a total of 26 years, to be exact—as a teacher. During the span of her career to date, she has taught students ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade.

The exceptional reputation of Houston County’s award-winning school district is no secret. McRae pointed out that even before coming here, she had often heard that the district was an exemplary one that only hired the best.

Knowing that, she said, “Words could not explain how I felt when I was hired. I became a part of a leading district; one that knows how to lead, support and help those who want to be successful.”

As one who believes that order, consistency and quality engagement flourishes mastery in all lives, McRae admitted that becoming an intricate part of Houston County’s schools meant a lot to her. Her position as a teacher here encourages her to excel even more in her field.

She said that it makes her “do more daily to lead by example and proudly say, ‘I did it, and you can too.’”

McRae shared that she is one of eight children born to a mother who had very little education. To make ends meet, her mom had to work two jobs. She and her siblings found themselves—as they got older—taking on low paying jobs just to help their struggling mother.

“It was during this time I realized education was the key to escape a life of struggle and poverty,” McRae said. And although she completely valued her mother’s stellar work ethic and undeniable love for her children, McRae added, “I knew I wanted a different type of life for myself.”

When she had a daughter of her own, McRae worked during the day and spent the evening hours pursuing a bachelor’s degree. She said it was hard work, but she kept pushing because it was necessary.

“I knew one day I would reach my final wish, which was to become a teacher to teach, love and encourage students daily,” she said. “I will never forget Aristotle, the famous Greek philosopher who proclaimed, ‘Educating the mind without educating the heart is not education at all.’”

In her own experience as a child going through school, McRae remembered being embarrassed when she didn’t know answers to questions in class. She cited that it was her fifth-grade teachers that first began inspiring and encouraging her when they noted that beneath all that bashfulness was a smart student.

“It was like pouring gas in a gas tank that would never run dry,” she said of their motivation. “This inspired me to work even harder.”

So that she could learn more than what was taught in her own classroom (and make a little money on the side), McRae began doing her siblings’ homework. Being told that she was smart by those who taught her made her see that she could do anything if she put her mind to it. McRae has never forgotten those educators that pushed her to greatness, and some of them are still cheering her on all these years later.

“I actually keep in touch with many of my past teachers today, just to hear them say, ‘I’m so proud of you.’”

Being in the position to “pay it forward” is the best part of teaching for McRae. She is now in the place to equip and encourage students to do what they think, and often do not know, they can do.

“I have learned that many times, students fail in a content area because they feel it is too hard to master. Fear has consumed them, and they have given up,” she said. “I love finding a way to get them to practice it through something they enjoy. The fear is generally vanished, and success is met. I love hearing excitement and exclamatory gestures when they accomplish tasks I put before them,” McRae added. “It’s the best way to end a lesson, a year and a love for life-long learning.”

Having had teachers that motivated her to never lose hope, McRae said that her best advice to students is much the same—never to give up. A quote that encouraged her as a child is, “When life throws you lemons, make lemonade.” She still sees the relevance in that quote today.

“A student must learn that things will not always go like he or she plans or thinks. However,” McRae continued, “learning to make the best of each setback, disappointment and failure, he or she will stand and defeat every obstacle they face in life. It’s not important how many times you fall,” she stressed, “but it is very important to know you have the power to get up.”

Parents play a crucial role in the lives of their children, and McRae urges them to make the best of every day count. It is important, McRae said, that parents take time to instill in their child’s dreams and inspire them to do their best.

“Encourage them to set goals, dream big and reach for the stars,” she implored. “When it appears like the light is getting dim at the end of the tunnel, help them realize ‘delayed’ does not mean ‘denied’.”

McRae received her B.S. in Early Childhood Education at Brewton-Parker College and her Master’s in Reading and Literacy as well as her Specialist in Teacher Leadership at Georgia Southern, Wesleyan College and Walden University. Additionally, she has obtained her math and gifted endorsements.

Mrs. Earnestine McRae is married to James McRae Jr., who she calls the “love of my life.” Together, they have two beautiful daughters and four energetic grandchildren.

“I enjoy spending time with my family, mentoring the youth, sewing and doing arts and crafts, but most of all,” McRae said, “I enjoy serving God. I am a breast cancer survivor, and know I would not be who I am if it weren’t for God.”

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