Sherrie Hubbard’s path to teaching is not a long, dramatic story

ALBANY — Sherrie Hubbard, a Social Studies Teacher at Radium Springs Middle School, said she would love to weave a long, dramatic story about how she became a teacher. But there is just one problem — there is no long, dramatic story.

“I don’t have one because teaching was never in my plan, but it was God’s plan for me. I know it’s cliche, but for me it’s the truth,” Hubbard, a finalist for Dougherty County’s 2015-16 Teacher of the Year, said. “My oldest son, nine at the time, would come home from school and complain about how hard the work was for him and how much he didn’t like school. I started noticing it was taking him longer to do his homework. After about a week, God said ‘Teach him to see it.’ So I began to re-teach all of his subjects in a more hands-on manner before he started his homework.

“He began completing his assignments quicker and his grades in school started to improve. I realized that his teacher was providing one means of instruction for the entire class that was ineffective for my son.”

Then she took her conversation with God to another level.

“I love helping children change their lives through learning so I decided to go back to school and obtain a Master’s degree and certification in education,” Hubbard said. “For me, teaching is not a job, it’s a passion. I enjoy watching the joy my students have in my class because they understand the contect and can apply it to everyday life. My students now enjoy watching the World News because they can understand what is being reported and can’t wait to talk about it the next day

“For me to see their faces light up with excitement as they talk to one another or contribute to the conversation is priceless — especially knowing that in August most of them thought the news was ‘for old people.’”

Hubbard added her teaching style is simple.

I attempt to inspire growth in my students by giving them tools to take into other disciplines and other domains of their lives,” she said. “One of the greatest goals I have is to teach my students to become motivated, insightful and enthusiastic, but more importantly, critical thinkers.”

She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and an MEd, in Middle Grades Education from Albany State University, and a master’s in Post Secondary Education from Troy State University.

Dougherty County’s 2015-16 Teacher of the Year will be announced Thursday evening at a banquet at the Hilton Garden Inn.