Sissy Tunnell never wanted to be anything but a school teacher.
“I love little kids,” she said. “I’ve wanted to be a teacher since the second grade. I would make my sister pretend to be my student.”
Tunnell’s dream came true nine years ago when she became a school teacher, first starting in first grade. The past two years she’s taught third grade at Bruce Elementary. This year she has been named the Teacher of the Year for the Calhoun County School District.
“I was very shocked, very humbled,” Tunnell said of when she learned of the honor. “I see a lot of teachers that work really hard. I’m thankful to work at such an awesome place with great colleagues.”
Tunnell said she was inspired by many of her own teachers growing up such as Rita Stewart, Judy Myers, Margie Allen and Gerry Marshall to name a few.
“It was their positive feedback, motivating you to always do better that really stuck with me,” Tunnell said. “I remember getting Tootsie Roll pops from Gerry Marshall as rewards for doing well. I incorporate a lot of that in my classroom.”
She said she loves teaching in the elementary grades due to the “foundational” impact you can have on the children.
“You’re giving them foundational skills for life,” she said. “If they don’t get it in these low grades they’re going to struggle throughout.”
That can mean a lot of pressure on the teacher, especially in a “high stakes tested area” like Tunnell teaches, but she thrives on it.
“I love it,” she said with a smile. “You have to have a passion for it to enjoy it and I do.”
Literacy, in particular, is the foundational skill Tunnell emphasizes with her students.
“I have a passion for reading. If you can’t read in life, you’re in trouble,” she said. “Writing is also very important. I want them to be able to put their thoughts into words.”
Among the biggest challenges for teachers like Tunnell, who teaches all subjects to her students, is the varying levels of ability and comprehension of her students.
“You have to meet their academic needs based on where they are,” she explained. “It’s tough. I use a lot of data, observation, utilize small groups and encourage parental support. I believe in making every minute count. I don’t like to waste time.”
The highlight of the teaching experience for Tunnell is like for most teachers, that “aha” moment for her students when they first understand something new.
“You can see it when it happens. It’s a great feeling,” she said.
Tunnell said she also loves looking for ways to improve and be better for her students.
“You can’t just do the same thing over and over,” she said. “I love looking for better ways to do things.”
Tunnell also takes seriously her role as a mentor for her students and teaching them how to act.
“Behavoir is big for me, too,” she said. “I have high standards for it just like the academics.”
“I hope one day they’ll look back and say, ‘I remember Mrs. Tunnell making us do that’ and have an appreciation for it.”
Teachers of the Year
Sissy Tunnell
Bruce Elementary
Shelia Ferguson
Bruce High School
Dacia Taylor
Bruce Upper Elementary
Drew Smiley
Calhoun City High School
John Austin Williams
Calhoun City Middle School
Karen Porter
Calhoun City Elementary
Jennifer Bennett
Calhoun County C&TC
Kayla Long
Vardaman High School
Carmen Easley
Vardaman Elementary