Educator of the Week: Wendy Hendrix

It’s time now to recognize our Educator of the Week, brought to you by the Tennessee Education Lottery.

Wendy Hendrix is a Kindergarten teacher at Parsons Elementary School. She shares why teaching was the path she decided to pursue.

“I love kids and being around them,” Hendrix said. “Wanting to help because some kids have it and some don’t, but all kids can learn.”

Hendrix says her favorite part of teaching are the light bulb moments.

“My husband said to not say seeing those light bulbs go off, but it does, you can see that they’ve got it and the look on their face and that they’re proud of themselves because they have actually learned something. Like I said earlier, all kids can learn something,” Hendrix said.

Hendrix uses many unconventional methods to teach her students. She tells us how one student was able to learn while enjoying an “egg-celent” snack.

“I know I’ve done green eggs and ham before and a little student could not learn the letter E. And there we were eating those eggs, and he hollered out ‘I love green eggs.’ Then I said ‘what does eggs start with’ and he said ‘e’ That’s what it took for him to learn that letter and that sound and so he was able to read words with that letter.”

Hendrix has been teaching at Parsons Elementary for 29 years. She shares how watching past students grow up to be their own person can be bitter sweet.

“You know they’re your babies and you get attached to them. You go to ball parks, you go watch them at church if their being baptized or playing games. I’ve always said if just one, if you can make a difference in one life then you know you’ve done something.”

Hendrix is now eligible for the Tennessee Education Lottery Educator of the Month award.

To vote for her or any other nominees, go to the Tennessee Education Lottery website.

To nominate an educator for our Educator of the Week award, email us at educator@wbbjtv.com.