Janet Morris – Miller Elementary

Janet Morris is the 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year for Miller Elementary School.

Morris was born and raised in Alabama. She and her husband Ben Morris, Sr. moved to Warner Robins in the late 1990s as he was stationed at Robins Air Force Base and still serves today as an active military service member. Together they have two sons Ben Morris, Jr. and Telvin. Morris. She graduated from Macon State College, which is now known as Middle Georgia State University, in 2007 with her bachelor’s degree specializing in a dual degree in early childhood education and special education. She began her teaching career at Miller Elementary in the fall of 2008.

Why teaching/What brought you into this field?

“That is a question I have been asked by many and my answer is why not? It has always been my first choice when asked what I wanted to be when I was a child. As a young military wife and mother of two sons, I attended college as a nontraditional student. Having the opportunity to be their first teacher and watch them grow and pick up skills that were initially a struggle for them, encouraged me to make my goal a reality. I am ecstatic that my husband and I are the proud parents of a college graduate who is employed at Robins Air Force Base and an upcoming college graduate in December. I feel that all students deserve a teacher that cares. When I am having a challenging day I always think if they don’t have me, who will they have? For me, teaching is a ministry. I truly can not imagine being any thing other than a teacher.”

Any inspiration from past teachers?

“I must say my inspiration is comprised from several teachers throughout my life. Not only my personal teachers who helped shape me into the person I am, but there are professors as well who inspired me. I must also include colleagues that have and still inspire me to this day. I believe valuable lessons can be learned in all situations, whether positive or not so positive. Often times we as teachers are overlooked and not paid as well as other professions, but remember, we don’t teach for the income, but for the outcome and that is priceless because teachers really teach all other professions. I still attribute my greatest inspiration to my own parents, my first teachers.”

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

“Although I enjoy many things about teaching, I must say that teaching allows me the opportunity to enrich young lives. Many of my students lack the opportunity of being exposed to experiences that many of us may have been afforded. As a GTE teacher in a Title 1 school, it is my responsibility to take my students on a journey each day, whether it be through stories, experiments, extracurricular activities, or even conversation. I am able to expose my students to some things they may never be given the opportunity to experience otherwise. Having students engaged in a lesson is a great achievement for any teacher. I am thrilled when my former students remind me of something we did when they were in my class whether it was the day before or last year. I actually have a parent who reminded me of a simple spelling activity she enjoyed when her now 10th grader was in first grade. Her son was excited to spell words because we played basketball with the words. He was anxious to practice his words at home because he was engaged. It makes my heart smile.”

What is the most challenging part of teaching?

“The most challenging part of teaching for me is definitely time and scheduling. A successful teacher cannot teach 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and their day be done. The work is ongoing and is never really caught up. You may achieve tasks for that day, but then you have the next day that has more tasks that need to be addressed. Juggling schedules between school and home is also challenging. The best teacher must also be the best wife and mother among other roles.”

Advice to students

“Advice that I give to students is to be open to new experiences and no matter the challenge, always try your best.”

Advice to parents

“Advice that I would give to parents is simply be open to your child’s teacher wanting to build a relationship with you.”