Jasmine McPhatter left nursing exam to follow calling as teacher
Jasmine McPhatter
By Terry Lewis
ALBANY — One morning during her freshman year at Albany State University, Jasmine McPhatter was getting dressed to take a test to enter the Nursing Program at ASU. Yet she was still uncertain she even wanted to be a nurse.
“I remember calling my mom crying because I didn’t know what to do,” McPhatter, one of eight finalists for Dougherty County’s 2016-17 Teacher of the Year, said.recalled. “She reassured me and reminded me of the prophesies of being a phenomenal teacher since I was young. I realized I could no longer hide from God’s calling. As I sat in the exam room, I prayed and God revealed my life’s purpose: teacher.
“At that moment I felt at ease and left the room. I never took the exam. It’s funny how life works sometimes.”
Now a fourth grade social studies teacher at Alice Coachman Elementary School, McPhatter said it was a calling that led her to the classroom.
“A calling challenges an individual to be more than they think they can be,” she said. “After awhile it becomes a way of life offering individuals to affect other individuals in a profound, enduring way. Teaching is my calling. I enjoy teaching because it keeps your brain young. We do remarkable things as teachers; mostly what we do is relatively unnoticed and uncelebrated. When one of us is recognized, that recognition can serve to remind us all to think about why we teach school and how well we teach.
“I feel my greatest accomplishments and achievements lie within my classroom. Seeing students become excited about learning, engaged in the learning process and excelling in all they do makes me feel a sense of accomplishment.”
McPhatter holds a B.A in Early Childhood Education from Albany State University. She is currently working on her Master’s in Early Childhood Education at ASU.
She has been with the DCSS since 2013.
In addition to McPhatter, the seven other Teacher of the Year finalists are: Nayonda Gibson, Monroe High School ; Kaysha Young-Brown, Live Oak Elementary; Alshrentia Cutliff, Merry Acres Middle School; Derrick Greene, Lincoln Elementary Magnet School; Doris Greene, West Town Elementary School; Yolanda Jackson, Albany Middle School; and Lidia Olds, International Studies Elementary Charter School.
Dougherty County’s 2016-17 Teacher of the Year will be announced at a banquet Thursday evening at the Hilton Garden Inn.
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