Ms. Marshall is a ninth grade English teacher who has recently celebrated her ten year anniversary of teaching.
Ms. Marshall knew from an early age that she would be a teacher. She was an only child and always had her way. “I loved telling people what to do. When I was in school I would be correcting the students in class.”
In her childhood, Ms. Marshall’s mother would order a new encyclopedia for her every two weeks and she would spend her time reading. Never the kind to go outside and get dirty, Ms. Marshall would stay indoors and teach her stuffed animals what she learned from the books she collected. “My first lesson to my stuffed animals I taught them the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony because I had learned that in my encyclopedias.”, she said.
When she was in school, Ms. Marshall noticed a lot of her peers thought it was uncool to be intelligent. She felt that if she became a teacher she could show students the importance of learning and being smart.
“I feel that literacy is the most important thing in the world. I believe that literacy, learning how to read and write, arms you against oppression.”, she said. “I feel that anything you want to accomplish in life you need to learn how to read and write. I don’t care what career field, whatever you want to do you need to be literate.”
With English holding an important piece of her heart, Ms. Marshall decided to pursue it and made it her major.
She is a graduate of the great Bethune Cookman University in Daytona Beach which is a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Ms. Marshall decided to attend Bethune because her pastor was a student of the school. “He would always give us stories about the founder of the college.”, she said.
The founder of the college, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune is historically known for her hand in civil rights, and she was very active with her role as president, formal policy, and equal education for all children. Ms. Marshall was inspired to attend Bethune University by her pastors stories and the works of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.
When it comes to teaching, Ms. Marshall enjoys the escape from corporate America and her ability to be herself. “In the classroom I don’t have to be some corporate person that follows strict rules” She also likes the flexibility that comes with being a teacher, being able to adapt to each class and each student. “I also enjoy being the only adult in the room,” she said jokingly.
To Ms. Marshall though, the greatest thing about teaching is the ability to teach kids things they otherwise wouldn’t have learned at home, such as morals, respect, and confidence.
In the future Ms. Marshall aspires to do more in education, preferably on the political side or advocating for parents.
“There are a lot of changes that need to take place politically when it comes to education but it’s not going to happen until we are no longer passive about what students need.”, she said.
