Teacher is also an ambassador
Amanda Wilson walked into the fourth grade classroom of Amanda Miliner to shoot a video of the Houston County Teacher of the Year nominee at Miller Elementary School.
As a part of her job at the Houston County Board of Education, Wilson is accustomed to observing teachers. But the room of Miliner made a particularly strong impression on her.
In one corner, students were collaborating on a model. A few feet over, another group was designing a poster for a project.
Miliner, a former Miss Georgia who went on to win Georgia Teacher of the Year, was seated on the floor with the children, writing a rap song about whatever the curriculum called for that day.
Wilson decided she needed a career change.
Majoring in communications and information technology provides a variety of skills, but it did not provide Wilson with the experience and credentials to become a teacher. Wilson turned to Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy, or Georgia TAPP, an alternative teaching certification program.
“I do everything the hard way,” said the 29-year-old Wilson with a smile.
More than two years later, after having completed the Georgia TAPP Program, Wilson has been named one of 29 Georgia TAPP ambassadors, an honor awarding excellent alumni of the program.
The ambassadors attended a three-day conference in June, and now are “on-call” to speak for the Georgia TAPP program to legislators and other civic organizations on behalf of TAPP.
Her first interview landed her a job teaching sixth-grade language arts at Warner Robins Middle School.
“She has all the characteristics you don’t learn in school,” Principal Brett Wallace said. He said these characteristics include a good attitude and a winning smile.
“As a new teacher, my first year was very intimidating,” Wilson said. “I can tell you my second year was way better than my first because I had more confidence.”
Pamela S. Wacter, coordinator of the Georgia TAPP program for Middle Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency, was assigned to monitor Wilson’s classroom at least five times in her first year.
“I never observed her when there was anything wrong,” Wacter said. “That’s how natural she is.”
Wacter nominated both Wilson and Central High School teacher Jarrod Moore as the Central Georgia TAPP ambassadors upon their completion of the two-year TAPP program. In addition to the responsibilities of all TAPP ambassadors, Wilson will co-teach a class for current TAPP teachers with Mercedes Walker, a fellow graduate of the TAPP Program at Warner Robins Middle School.
Before teaching the TAPP class, Wilson needs to start the school year with her sixth-graders. Her philosophy is if she isn’t having fun, neither are her kids. She prefers a hands-on approach, focusing on group activities and reading. Her classroom is often loud.
“I call it my happy chaos,” Wilson said with a laugh.
And the “chaos” works for the students.
Tammy King, mother of Makalie King, glowed about her child’s experience with Wilson.
“There have only been a few (teachers) that my daughter will always go back to no matter where we go,” said Tammy King. “I know when we go to high school, if we ever go back to that middle school, Ms. Wilson will be one that she has to go see. She’s left a lasting mark on my child.”
This story was originally published July 24, 2016 at 3:32 PM with the headline "Teacher is also an ambassador."