TaMeka Ross is a teacher at Dana Road Elementary and has been working in the classroom for 22 years.

Ross is a finalist for the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce’s Educator of the Year award. One elementary and one secondary teacher of the year will be announced at the Chamber Luncheon in February. The winner of each award will receive $1,000 from Ameristar Casino and the runners-up for each award will receive $500 from Mutual Credit Union.   

Ross earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in child development from Alcorn State University and a Master’s of Arts degree in elementary education from William Carey University. 

Ross said teaching elementary students includes lessons that carry over into all areas of life.

“The lesson that best defines me as a teacher is ‘dedicated,’” she said. “This lesson is essential throughout everything that is done in life. For instance, working hard, commitment and the importance of perseverance.”

Ross said these lessons help her students not only achieve success in the classroom, but also in everyday life.

“I believe in creating a positive and loving learning environment where students can interact with their teacher and their peers through interactive learning, play and relationships,” she said. “Each of these strategies ensures that the student is connected to the outside world. The collaboration between the students and myself also ensures me as a teacher that my students are ready to learn and understand what is being asked of them.”

Interacting with each other, Ross said, makes each student better at their lessons.

“I incorporate measures to improve student achievement by pairing different academic-level students together and constantly doing small-group or one-on-one with my students,” she said. “I feel that students learn better from other peers as well as it helps my students that perform lower, or are a slower academic learner, push harder to get where his or her accountability friendly partner is.”

Ross said watching her students grow from the various lessons is a moving experience.

“My most moving educational experience was as  a first-year classroom teacher, seeing a tremendous academic growth among my students,” she said. “I love watching young minds grow to love learning.”