Teacher Feature: Andrea Sanders
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Andrea Sanders graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and in 2017 with a Master of Science in Teaching, Learning and Leadership, option in reading and literacy. A seven-year teaching veteran, Sanders currently teaches fifth grade at Disney Elementary School in Tulsa.
Why did you become an educator?
In 2004, I volunteered with Junior Achievement, and that’s when I heard my calling
to be an educator. Being around those students tugged at my heart in a major, positive
way. At that moment, I knew I wanted to be a teacher in an urban area. One of the
schools where I volunteered was Sam Houston Elementary in Tulsa. The school has since
closed, but every Thursday I was there, the students were excited to see me. But I
think I was more excited than they were. I was in my element.
You were recently recognized as Disney Teacher of the Year for 2016-17. What was your
reaction to receiving this honor?
I was excited and shocked! I knew this was something I wanted to achieve, but I wasn’t
expecting it so soon. At the time, I was in my second year of teaching at Disney,
and I didn’t have as much experience as my fellow nominees. When I heard my principal
say my name, I was in shock, but that was soon replaced with a smile that I’m still
proudly wearing today. This is an honor I hold near to my heart and one that I’ll
always remember.
How did your time at OSU prepare you for your current teaching position?
Every single professor at OSU was passionate about the classes they taught, and they
wanted me to be just as passionate, especially about the profession. I learned that
if you don’t believe in yourself, who will? My professors all believed in me and even
on the days when I wanted to quit, they motivated me to keep going. They saw something
in me, and for that I’m extremely grateful. I use that same philosophy with my students
now; if we believe it, we can achieve it!
What is something you learned during your time at OSU that you’d like to pass on to
other teachers?
Practice makes possible. You can’t go into the classroom for the first time and expect
everything to be as lovely or as great as you’ve seen during student teaching or observation
visits. I want teachers to embrace this profession with an open mind and the will
to accept change. There is always something changing, every single day. Keep an open
mind, and don’t be so hard on yourself. Be yourself, but more importantly, be the
teacher you are meant to be.
What brings you joy in your work?
Knowing I get to see my students and teach them something new brings me joy. At my
school, we have about 60 percent parent involvement, which means the majority of my
students have the support they need at home. For those who don’t have that support,
I step in and try to help fill that void. Doing so makes teaching all the more worth
it, and that brings me joy. Words of encouragement and thanks from my students reassure
me that that teaching is my passion and my calling. I do this for them – and for me.
MEDIA CONTACT: Rachel Eng |405-744-8320 |rachel.eng@okstate.edu