Annette Scott

Ms. Scott's "passion for teaching is contagious," wrote one nominator. She is an English Language Arts Teacher for grades 4-6 at Francis Marion School in Perry County and is committed to inclusive learning, creativity, and student support.

One of Annette Scott's favorite quotes to share with her students is "Excuses are tools of incompetence used to build bridges to nowhere..." It's something she requires her students to commit to memory, so they never forget the negative impact of making excuses.

"My students appreciate my using quotes," Ms. Scott said, "because I will always provide them with a way to ensure that they understand the meaning of being prepared and staying on task."

Learn more about how she champions her students' strong character and hard work with unmatched compassion, inside and outside the classroom.

Getting to Know You

What inspired you to become a teacher, and how did your journey in education begin? 

My inspiration for teaching began when I was in 4th grade. My teacher, Mrs. Bell, told me that “I could read,” and from that day forward, I volunteered to read every time she’d ask someone to read. She taught me how to look at unfamiliar words and paint a picture of the word, then produce a sound that would immediately roll off my tongue correctly. I was fascinated with being able to help other students correctly pronounce words, and Mrs. Bell never stopped me. I suddenly realized that this would one day be my calling. Helping children pronounce words while learning how to read.

Honestly, I didn’t graduate college as soon as I planned, but I never lost hope. I would tutor students in my home while assisting my students with homework. Then one day, while in my early thirties, I changed my course, and it led me back to college. I graduated with my B.S. in Elementary Education, and one year later, I received my M.S. in Elementary Education. While in college, I was afforded the opportunity to visit many schools. I witnessed so many amazingly awesome skills and strategies being utilized. I always remembered Mrs. Bell and her teachings, and I knew I was ready to add and offer so much more to the educational process. Once I graduated, I was hired as a 4th-grade teacher and was so happy to give back the love Mrs. Bell provided me.

As of today, I have been teaching for 20 years, and I still love reading and pronouncing words. I am currently a 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade ELA teacher. I’m not bragging, but I know for a fact that my students will win any figurative language contest.

What is your favorite part of teaching, and how does it keep you motivated? 

My favorite part of teaching comes daily when I see my students excited about learning. I always tell them that when they learn just a little bit more today than they did yesterday, that makes all the difference. I’m always motivated to give my students wisdom and knowledge about how to become a well-rounded individual. My motivation also comes from allowing my students to ask and answer questions about every lesson. I try to teach them that mistakes will not stop you from learning. They will teach you how to have self-confidence in knowing that you will get it right the next time. When I can see that my students are engaged, I try to give them more and more knowledge to ensure that they will be ready for higher levels of learning.  

What’s something unique about your classroom or teaching style that helps your students succeed? 

In my classroom, all of my students are called “love-love!” I use this term so that every student understands that even though I might not be able to guarantee that they will receive all A’s, I guarantee them that if they follow me, I will give them all “A” chance to reach their greatest potential.

Outside of the classroom, how do you recharge or find inspiration? 

Although it’s still school, I volunteer at my church two hours on the first and third Saturday of every month. Along with a few other educators, we assist students who are struggling with math and reading skills.

I receive inspiration through relaxing with my sisters every weekend. We find pleasure in visiting different restaurants and ordering food that is different from what we are accustomed to. After which, I return to school and have conversations with my students about the restaurants and the food. They love to tell me about their experiences.  

If you could share one thing about yourself that your students or colleagues might not know, what would it be?

I secretly love karaoke. I love to sing at home with the microphone and pretend I'm singing on stage in front of a crowd. I instantly turn into a star, and I share my enthusiasm with my students, so they can share the spotlight sometimes as well. I also utilize this with my students during our 21st-century classes. I believe this will help my students with self-confidence and provide them a sense of knowing that they can do things they never thought they could do.

Classroom Impact

Can you share a story about a time you made a lasting impact on a student’s life?

Around March 2023, a social worker from the Alabama Department of Human Resources came to visit me in my classroom. She stunned me by asking if I could provide one weekend of home care for one of my students. I didn’t hesitate to say “no.” My student was dealing with so many behavioral issues. Nonetheless, the social worker pleaded with me to help because my student didn’t have anywhere else to go.

I said “yes,” and my student spent the entire weekend with me. The next week, the social worker called and stated that they still didn’t have anywhere for my student to live, and I was asked to allow her to stay with me a little longer. This situation made a total difference in my life. I learned so much about her, and she constantly told me how much she enjoyed living with me. We would go shopping, go to church, and do so many other fun activities. My coworkers would give me reports on how she had improved both socially and academically. We developed a bond that lasted for seven months.

A family member agreed to take my student into their home, and I had no choice but to allow her to go. Unfortunately, due to my student constantly moving homes, I’m not in contact with her anymore.

What’s the most memorable moment you’ve had while teaching?

The most memorable moment that I had while teaching was the year my principal asked me to take on the role of teaching an all-boys 4th-grade class that included 28 boys. The boys had so many different personalities, but they learned so many ways to work together, and we built a strong relationship with each other. The boys learned how to support and encourage each other on a daily basis. Their level of expectation soared day by day. We were constantly challenging each other to reach certain goals. More so than anything, the boys began utilizing high levels of respect for each other as well as myself and other adults. The overall winning moment came when my boys took the ACAP Assessment, and they did extremely well. 23 out of 28 boys scored proficient, and they were overly excited to hear this news. In that same year, I was nominated Teacher of the Year for my school…

How do you create a classroom environment that fosters curiosity and connection for every student?

My students are welcomed every morning with “Good morning, love-loves.” They look forward to me saying it, and even when I visit the high school, the students all yell out, “Hey, love-love!” I always want my students to feel loved, safe, and important. I want to provide growth for my students, whether they are struggling or making good grades. I always want my students to feel comfortable in making mistakes and being able to verbally explain, discuss, and debate some of the whys and whats. I try to ensure that my classroom is a space where students believe they are celebrated for success, small or large. I still believe in utilizing stickers, teacher-drawn hearts, and smiley faces on paperwork. Finally, I want my students to learn how to transition from dependent to independent learners whenever necessary.

Reflection and Advice

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in teaching? 

You must build healthy relationships and find a way to learn as much as you can about your students. This is important because not every student comes from a home conducive to your family’s educational values. You must also use measures that allow your students to know how much you care about them. Make sure you not only have rules but expectations as well. You must always offer what is measurable. Don’t start off with something that the majority of your students have absolutely no prior knowledge about. Meet them where they are and then elevate them every chance you get.

If you could share one piece of wisdom with students graduating in 2024-2025, what would it be?

One of my favorite quotes, stated by Zig Ziglar, says, “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” Graduate with a sense of knowing that life has endless possibilities. If you want to share some of these experiences, then you must get up every day and put in the work. In the end, you will be where you want to be and not where you have to be.

APT and PBS LearningMedia

How do resources like APT and PBS Learning Media fit into your teaching approach, and what difference have they made in your classroom?

My students love to utilize PBS Learning Media! As an educator, I believe that it’s a wonderful online platform to utilize to keep students engaged and on task while still being aligned with the district’s curriculum! No matter what the subject or skill that I’m teaching, I can always allow my students to partake in PBS lessons. The lessons include so many amazingly awesome kid-friendly videos. They captivate the students' minds and help them to better understand different skills. I believe using a platform like this provides an extra learning tool for students to receive before, during, and after the teacher has taught the lesson.

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