Quishawna Henderson – Westside Elementary

Quishawna Henderson is the 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year for Westside Elementary School.

Henderson was born and raised in Waynesboro, Georgia. She graduated from Burke County High School and afterward earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Augusta State University. Henderson then received her media specialist and education specialist degree from Georgia Southern University. In 2011, she married her husband Antoan and moved that same year to start a family in Warner Robins. Henderson has taught at Crossroads Center, Feagin Mill Middle, and is currently the media specialist at Westside Elementary. She is also in the 10th year of her teaching career.

Why teaching/What brought you into this field?

“I wanted to be an advocate for children. When I was little I would always play school with my younger sisters and cousins and I was always the teacher. Even when I was in middle school I was tutoring other students and it just became a passion. But when I was getting my bachelors degree, I started out as a pre-med major and realized this is not as fun as education. My heart was not in it and so I switched to mathematics education.”

Any inspiration from past teachers?

“I had a lot of teachers who were an inspiration to me. So many played a big role. I remember to this day of how they made me feel. It wasn’t necessarily what they taught because I can’t remember every single lesson, but do remember how I felt. My 11th grade Algebra 2 teacher, Stephanie Frey, she had a passion for math, teaching and learning. She really influenced me and it’s because of how she made me feel how I treat my students today.”

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

“I love those ‘I understand’ moments like the ‘aha’ moments. To see them struggle for so long or even take it to the next level to me, that’s the best part of teaching.”

What is the most

challenging part of teaching?

“One thing that is challenging to me is once you create that connection with students, that bond, it’s the time spent away from them is the hardest. When they leave school at the end of the day, the weekend or breaks it’s hard not to worry. You walk away wondering about are they eating, still in a safe place, etc. You develop such a strong connection because they’re your kids for 180 days and I truly feel like they’re my own.”

Advice to students

“My best advice is to never give up. Always give it your best shot. Find what interests you and make those connections because you know what you like better than any one else. Once you find what you like, relate it to school.”

Advice to parents

“Support your student academically, socially and emotionally. Support is key. Be involved in your child’s education and develop a bond with child’s teacher. You know them well but give that opportunity for the teacher to know [them] just as well.”