Becoming a teacher means answering a calling placed on one’s heart — it has to be — as a special few have the patience, grace and tolerance that are needed to help better children.
Sheree Addison, a teacher at Summit Elementary is one of those people who have answered the calling.
She is highly valuable and recognized within her community, so much so that she has won “best teacher” in the McComb District selected by readers in the Enterprise-Journal’s Education Awards.
“Several family members, including my mother, have been teachers,” Addison said. “There’s a calling placed on my heart to be a teacher, and I feel so blessed to have won this award.
“It’s nice to know that people recognize your hard work. My family is really proud. My fiancé John is my biggest supporter.”
This is Addison’s fourth year at Summit Elementary, where she teaches third grade. She grew up and graduated from school in Bogue Chitto before moving to McComb.
“I love what I do,” she said. “Third grade is a challenging age, but I love it.”
Addison said she manages to split her time between school and her home life.
“I am just enjoying my time with my fiancé and the kids I teach at school,” she said.
Trinity Brumfield, who won the best assistant teacher voting, also feels like being a teacher is calling — although that isn’t something she realized until a little later in life.
“It all started at J.C. Penney in the shoe department,” she said. “I would help kids find their shoes they wanted and I really took to them. I worked there and then at a day care in McComb and knew this is what I wanted to be doing.
“I started substituting at Summit, and then the principal asked if I wanted a permanent post and I said yes. That was eight years ago.”
During Brumfield’s spare time, she looks after her two children, one who is in college, and the other in 10th grade. She also helps take care of her parents.
The Best Volunteer award went to Lakeitha Atkinson, whose 11-year-old son attends Summit Elementary.
“I’m very honored to have been chosen by the community and anyone who voted for me,” Atkinson said. “I’m also grateful to be acknowledged for the great things I do for my son’s school.”
Aktinson works in the medical field and has flexible hours that allow her to assist the teachers and administrators any way that she can.
“I host many fundraisers for the students,” she said. “I work very well with the principal and support her vision. It brings my heart joy to see the smiles I bring to the faces of the educators and students.”
