The Interview: Teacher of the Year Anne Davis

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

One of Baldwin County's Teacher's of the Year is calling on parents to be involved in their child's learning.

Anne Davis is Baldwin County School’s Elementary Teacher of the Year. She's a 27-year veteran of the classroom and full of the enthusiasm she had the day she first started.

Davis teaches fifth grade at Bay Minette Intermediate School, and she said you can't trust elementary students to stay on top of their studies; parents must play a role in their success.

Davis recently shared some tips for parents and how she makes learning fun. 

"I think you need to have a good time. Every day, you need to be enthusiastic and set the tone for the day. And if you're having a good time, then the children are having a good time, and they're learning," said Davis.

BELIEVING IN HER STUDENTS

Davis is passionate about working with students to ensure a bright future.

"I feel so fortunate to help my children be the best that they can be, to learn all that they can and achieve.  I think you definitely have to love it. I don't do it for the paycheck. I do it because I feel that I'm called to do this," Davis said.

She credits her late mother, relatives who were teachers and others for her success in the classroom.

Davis said, "I'm just a sum total of all the good ideas from all the teachers that I had growing up, that I had in high school, that I've seen at different schools, that have helped me here, principals who have helped me. And, I didn't invent the wheel I just was kind of like a sponge trying to absorb their good ideas."

Davis said teachers need to believe in success in order to achieve it.

"The teacher is the primary catalyst in that classroom for that child achieving and doing well. They need to believe in every student and believe that every student can accomplish things. And that will lead them to success. I have many things in the classroom that help the children when we're learning. So, if we're talking about a heart, I have an example of a heart. If we talk about a ship, usually I have an example of a ship.  They want to see or touch something and I think that's valuable for the students," Davis adds.   

She believes that real world examples help children learn regardless of their learning styles. Davis said every child can learn.

"If every day you do a little bit of all these learning styles, then you will help every single child.  So we try to sing a little bit, act out a little bit. We write. We talk. We listen. We do a little bit of everything. Today it’s like we jump through every hoop in the world to make sure that, that child learns," she said.

RETURNING TO HER CALLING

Davis was away from the classroom for a few years becoming a Fairhope businesswoman.  But, she returned to what Davis said is her calling in the mid 1990s, bringing with her a new teaching tool technology.

"It's wonderful because we have the answer immediately rather than doing a report, going to the library, waiting a week and getting the information. And, it's also wonderful to do a lot of practice on math and science on the computers," Davis said.

She believes that more business people should consider teaching.

"Education gives you the ability to make your way in life. They could give real world examples of why you need to turn in your homework on time. I try to instill in my students that they should develop that pattern of being dependable," she said.

PARENTS ARE KEY TO SUCCESS

Davis said teachers need parents to do their part in the learning process.  

"Parents need to check on their children. I've often said you don't really trust children. You watch children, and you check on children, and so you check their homework. You check what they're doing .You talk to them every day, and you monitor their progress.  You encourage them. They can all learn. They can all accomplish it. They just have to have "stick- to- it- tiveness," Davis states.

Parents and children can count on Davis sticking around awhile longer. It's evident she loves what she's doing.  

Davis said, "Oh, I just want to keep teaching, I enjoy my job. I think it’s a wonderful profession. I am blessed to be in a job that I like better every single year. I love my job. I love my job."

 

Davis also said children with discipline issues can be dealt with successfully if corrected in a loving way.  

Some of Davis' former students include Alabama State School Board member Mary Scott Hunter and Watt Key, author of the book "Alabama Moon."  

Anne Davis said she wants to have a "lifelong" positive influence on her students like her mother did.  

Some of her late mother's Summerdale students kept in touch with her for 73-years.