Sherwood Acres Mona Tarver followed her vision of becoming a teacher

ALBANY — Like many teachers, Sherwood Acres Elementary fifth-grade Science and Social Studies instructor Mona Tarver knew early in life that she was meant to be an educator.

She could envision herself in the role.

“I realized at the early age of eight my true passion was to become a teacher. When one dreams of becoming a teacher you have a vision in place of what it will be like,” Traver, a finalist for Dougherty County’s 2015-16 Teacher of the Year, said. “I often envisioned students who would come to class eager for the information I was prepared to give them that day. I envisioned helping struggling students learn and seeing the excitement in a student’s eyes when they finally understood the content.

“These visions are what led me into the teaching profession.”

The key to her success, Tarver said, came from getting to know her students and gaining their trust and respect.

“When I began to teach, I learned that knowing the material was not enough — I needed to know my students. I learned that gaining their respect was essential to their learning success,” she said. “So I wok at learning something about each student — their hobbies, their athletic or academic extracurricular activities, and their interests. I also incorporate real world examples that affect them into my presentations.”

Tarver said she makes a commitment to each child she teaches..

“My greatest contribution to education is my commitment to teach all children. I have made a promise as a teacher to teach every child to the best of my ability and beyond,” she said. “As a teacher I have committed to serve, protect, and teach all students. I am very blessed because I am able to do more than just teach. I inspire, challenge, mentor, nurture and counsel. Whenever I have success with my students in any of these areas, I know I have accomplished much more than a grade on a report card — I have contributed to a lifetime of learning.”

Tarver holds a bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education from Albany State University, a master’s in Post-Secondary Education from Troy State University and an Educational Specialist degree in General Content from Georgia Southwestern State University.

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