Libbet Turner – Warner Robins High School

Libbet Turner is the 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year for Warner Robins High School. Turner was born in Tennessee and raised in Washington, Georgia. She has spent the last 32 years in Warner Robins, and her first teaching job was at Warner Robins High School. Originally, Turner earned a degree in business at North Georgia College, but later graduated with her master’s degree in foreign language education at the University of Georgia, as well as her specialist degree from Georgia Southwestern University. 

Why teaching/What brought you into this field?

“I swore I was never going to be a teacher, my mom was one. But I had a professor who was very professional and spoke Spanish at about 90 to nothing and I was just amazed. She never would speak English. Well, one day I happened to be in the hallway, and I heard her in her office speaking English in this thick Chicago accent. I was even more amazed and my interest really grew from there. Once I got out into my fieldwork, hanging around kids, I enjoyed it. But probably what actually led me to become a teacher was the summer camp I worked at back home. I loved working with the older kids, and so from there I knew what my career was going to be.”

Any inspiration from past teachers?

“I had great teachers all the way through, and I took something from each them and have applied it to how I teach today. I remember how my senior English teacher taught me to write an essay; I still use her outline today. My high school band director got us to do stuff even if it was tough. I was horrible at math but my teachers broke apart each problem, and I do that now, but with teaching the Spanish language. They were all phenomenal, and inspired me to be the best I can be.”

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

“The kids. I really enjoy being around them and see how they work, where they’re going, what they’re interested in, and how I can make that work in my classroom. I teach Spanish and if a kid can speak it, that’s fantastic, but if a kid walks out and has learned to accept a difference in somebody, whether it be cultural or beliefs, I feel like Spanish has made an impact on their lives. Even though they may not use it to speak, but they can, in some other way. One kid came back and said I taught him to open his mind and take a chance. That’s what I love and enjoy most.”

What is the most challenging part of teaching?

“The kids (she said laughing). But everyone does have a different personality. So for teachers, you have up to 30 different personalities in each class. Sometimes is can be frustrating trying to figure out why the kids are being the way they are, but then you find out their back story, and understand.”

Advice to students

“Open your minds to all things new. I fall back to that each time. Whether it’s a new way to work a math problem or talk to a friend or learn a new language, just give everything or everyone a chance.”

Advice to parents

“Understand we, teachers, are here to help your kids. We are not here to fight them. Our hearts are in teaching them and helping them grow. Not here to fail them or test them. We present this wealth of information for them and it is here for them to take it. Our hope is that the parents will support that and encourage them to take every advantage that is offered to their kids during their educational careers.”