Texas Teachers | Alternative Teacher Certification Program : Success Story by Jimmesha Robinson

Success Stories

Meet Jimmesha Robinson

Q&A with Jimmesha Robinson

Where are you originally from?

Houston, Texas
Where did you go to college and what did you study?

Sam Houston State University - Radio/TV/Film, English Minor
Do you have children?

None
Do you remember your favorite teacher? What made them special to you?

Yes. Ms. Betts. She was so special to me because she always made me laugh. She had a unique hobby, she loved to workout. She would share some of the most funniest stories ever! Most importantly, she made me feel like an individual!
What did you do before teaching?

Insurance and Sales.
Why did you get into teaching?

I had an opportunity to be exposed to this wonderful craft by tutoring and being a substitute. I looked forward to an opportunity to utilize my personality, and feel like I can actually make a difference in someone's life. Working for a paycheck... not fun! Working to make a difference... priceless!
What surprised you the most when you started teaching?

How often kids mess with their noses. My goodness! Introduce Kleenex the first day!
What is the biggest challenge for new teachers?

Staying organized! The interview is only one step. Being a teacher to me is like managing your own company. You're the boss of your own element and must strategically organize your self to keep your classroom running smoothly. You have to result to data to monitor growth; you have to change and modify constantly to ensure results. Teachers must be organized in a manner to handle new information, programs, and new personalities.
How long do you think it takes for a new teacher to really get their hands around teaching?

It depends on the person. If you go into teaching open-minded and ready for varied surprises and changes it might take up to a year or so to grasp the concept and to be set up properly. If your waiting for things to fall at your feet... it might take longer than to get things together. Overall, being open-minded and organized is the key for consistency and also being willing to do the work to get prepared.
What do the kids teach you?

The kids teach me patience and how to deal with the unknown. Like them unexpectedly getting sick on the floor in the middle of the lesson! You've got to expect the unexpected and be ready for anything!
What's the funniest thing that's happened to you in the classroom?

While getting to know my kids on my first day, I asked them to share a little bit of themselves with me by first stating their names and giving me a word to describe themselves. One of my students raised his hand and stated his name and then continued to tell me some very revealing personal information about his family. At that moment, I realized that I might need to better explain my icebreaker a bit more before the kids share all their family secrets!
Why did you choose the Texas Teachers program?

I wanted a program that ensured quality and training that would give me an edge when entering the classroom. I needed a program that had a reputation for landing jobs, and would saturate me with information and provide me an opportunity to use it. Let's be serious, who wants to put in the work with no result? Texas Teachers gave results. I have a job to prove it!
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